18.9.12

Paper crafting tools- Cutting tools

10 Paper Cutting Tools
Dear friends ,I get lots of queries regarding crafting tools and techniques ..this post is for those kind souls who flatter me by asking me for advice and tips!!So sharing basic and popular paper crafting tools [the must haves and the fancy ones] from the Indian craft scene scenario as procuring Paper-crafting tools is a big challenge in India.[See my post on CraftSupply Stores India]
NB: I get no incentive for writing about a product /seller and the sole purpose of this post is to help crafters!Also if you are selling a product and I give a negative opinion of it please don't be offended as its just my personal opinion and experience with my level of skill..a better crafter may be enjoying the said tool tremendously 
Cutting Tools
Scissors
Guillotine Paper Cutters
Paper Trimmers
Craft Knife
Fringing machine
Shape Cutters
Paper Shredder
Die Cutting Machines
Electronic Cutting Machines
Craft Punches
1.Scissors 
Crafting Scissors
Basic Scissors: For basic crafting needs any good locally available brand would do. Over time I have a huge collected many scissors[ updated this scissors picture on Jan 2015!] A good locally available brand is Cartini.
Pros: You can get good one locally
Cons: Cutting perfect straight lines requires a bit of care! If you have to do loads of cutting it will take its toll on you!
Tip:Avoid using your paper crafting scissors for other purposes such as cutting fabric.
Special Crafting Scissors : See my post on Crafters Corner : Reviewing the Best Crafting scissors

Fiskars Hobby Snip Review


Fiskars Hobby Snip
The Fiskars Hobby Snip is a  big strong fellow with so many clever features!
Fiskars Hobby Snip

Best Features of Fiskars Hobby Snips

  • Soft grip and Easy to hold
  • Serrated blades for nice grip while cutting
  • Hole for dowel/ wire cutting - awesome feature- see later in the post!
  • Spring Action - means less aching hands while cutting!
  • Easy lock which can be operated using your thumb!
    Fiskars Hobby Snip
    Can cut a huge variety of materials - Fabric,Cardboard,Chipboard, Zips,18 G Wire, Leather, thin Metal , Plastic,Wooden skewers
Fiskars Hobby Snip
 I 'll first show you my most favorite feature of this scissors - do you see that funny looking hole in the scissors blades?
Fiskars Hobby Snip Dowel hole
Those are meant for cutting wooden skewers and wire!
Fiskars Hobby Snip cutting dowel /wood
Just insert your wooden stick into one of the holes and close the scissor...hey presto the stick is cut in a snap! I demonstrated it to my hubby and boy was he impressed![Have you felt like kissing a scissors? I did at that point as I fell in love right there with this baby!]
Fiskars Hobby Snip cutting wooden rod
Both the Tim Holtz and the Fiskars Amplify scissors can cut card board but how about if you want to keep on cutting card board / chipboard for hours together...the Fiskars Hobby Snip is the one you get because as it has a spring action...after each cut  the blades spring apart and your hands wont ache even with this heavy duty cutting!!
Spring action at work cutting cardboard
And the spring action makes even fringing thin cardboard a breeze!
Fringing thin Cardboard
Because its such a strong scissors you can use it for peculiar crafty needs...like chopping off the hook in a plastic crystal bead to make a round crystal[ going to use it as a flower center and it looks better without the hole]
Cutting beads
If you like working with fabric and felt...the serrated blades makes cutting easy
Cutting felt
and the spring action makes fringing felt ..easy peasy! Yes you can roll these up to make fringed felt flowers like you would paper quilled fringed flowers!
Fringing felt
And here is one more unique feature of the scissors - it has an absolutely flat lower handle surface and you can make it stand on a flat surface while cutting something lengthy like fabric or chart paper!
Fiskars Hoby Snip Standing!
And because of its spring action this baby even has an Arthritis Foundation Ease of Use Seal!!
Criticism of the Fiskars Hobby Snip : I am totally in love with this one so no you are not going to hear a word against it from me!Ha Ha!
Fancy border scissors: are available in many stationary shops the popular ones being zig- zag, wavy, scallop etc. Have tried these fancy border scissors from several companies but I don’t relish working with them as I feel they require quite a lot of effort to create decent patterns!
Pros: Inexpensive and fun
Cons: They require quite a lot of effort to create decent patterns and most of the brands available locally don’t cut as smoothly as you would want them to!
Fringing scissors:
Fringing Scissors

These scissors cut paper into thin strips…Super awesome for making paper hair, fringed flowers, grass, paper weaving etc.I personally have not bought one as I couldn’t get it locally  but Delhi based Craft blogger Sudha sells them [PS: I receive no incentives for listing her…I just saw the product on her website!]
Pros: A fun fancy tool to have in your armamentaria. The local one is not expensive costing Rs 300 only [ref Sudha].Making fringed flowers would be so easy with this.
Cons: Consider whether you will be using it that much and if you are a dedicated quiller you may even want to invest in the more expensive fringing machine.
Small tip scissors: Though there are many expensive craft scissors, a cuticle scissors is just great for this purpose. If you love quilling, kirigami, 3D decoupage and fine paper crafting these may come in handy. Though I do lots of fine cutting [in origami architecture and kirigami pop up cards] I don’t use small scissors for the simple reason that they get misplaced so fast in our household and I would have to hunt boxes of toys and junk to retrieve it!
Pros: helps snip off the teeny paper bits and corners. Not expensive so worth investing.
Cons: You may as well adjust with your regular big scissors and craft knife! Not a good thing to have around kids and doggy helpers [a big factor for crafters like me!]
Scissors to cut double sided foam tape and sticky tape: If you have ever used double sided foam tape you will realize how sticky your scissors becomes on cutting it so it’s an absolute must to keep a separate scissors to cut those sticky double sided foam tapes.An old scissors would work well for this purpose.
Another awesome alternative is a nonsticky scissors such as the Tim Holtz Tonic Scissors which is such a beauty as it doesnt get sticky after hours of sticky tape cutting !
2.Guillotine Paper Cutters
These are amazing to use…you just press the lever down and the paper will cut though like magic!
Tips to consider while buying: Chose the size and brand wisely and do test it out!
Guillotine paper cutter
Taj /Other Local Indian Brand Guillotine Cutter
Guillotine paper cutter
I initially bought a 14 cm x local brand Taj guillotine costing around 700 rupees…it cuts well but I faced difficulties in cutting large chart paper for my daughters school projects so later on invested in a larger one by brand Deli .
Pros: Comparatively inexpensive as locally manufactured. Smaller ones cost less than 500 rupees.
It cut handmade paper, thin paper, origami paper and card stock easily.
Sharp cutting blade needs no replacement…the vendor said like a knife you can sharpen it if it blunts over time. Mine has been subjected to heavy use more than a year and still cuts perfectly.
Available in India but you may need to hunt for it
Cons: Very heavy and bulky as made of metal completely.
Take care if kids and pets are around as the blade is exposed.
In the Taj Model the paper has to be placed below a plastic platform and I couldn’t place thick foam or cardboard under it. 
Guillotine paper cutter
If I put the thick material over it and tried cutting the edges would be extremely jagged!
Markings may be in centimeter or inches and the Taj brand has no markings on the platform so for the less mathematically inclined like me this is a disadvantage
Deli Guillotine Paper cutter
Pros: Available in India in major stationary shops such as Staples and even your local stationary shop may be able to procure one for you.
Cutting is a breeze. Easily cuts foam and even thick cardboard.
Available in different sizes and materials [plastic, steel and wood]based on your needs and budget- small ones may be enough for the card maker and big ones extremely useful if you want to cut large sheets for large projects or school projects]
Guillotine Paper Cutter [Image from Deli Site]
Big help is the detailed measurement markings on the platform as well as the top shelf. Markings are in both centimeters and inches. 
Guillotine Paper Cutter
My Deli is a  huge 21 x 16 inch wooden guillotine cutter
Guillotine Paper cutter
Cons: More expensive compared to local Indian brand guillotine cutters. No fancy border cutting option
Pros of Guillotine Paper cutter
No blade replacement necessary.
Cutting is easy, fast and clean.
Less expensive compared to the paper trimmers.
Sturdy and strong as made of wood or metal.
Easy to cut thin paper strips for quilling
Advantage over paper shredder is that you can cut your strips wider than in the paper shredder.
Even though the name guillotine is scary I even let my 5 year old daughter use it under supervision explaining to her the right way to use it and the precautions
Cons of Guillotine Paper cutter
Most are bulky and heavy so difficult to carry around.
You cannot cut a slit in the middle of the paper like in fancy paper trimmers.
I don’t know of any guillotine cutter which cuts a fancy border.
For paper strip cutting for quilling you need to cut each individual paper strip and won’t be able to shred a paper into strips as quickly as in a paper shredder.
3.Paper Trimmers
There are many brands available both online and at local stores. They have small blades which slide across and cut your paper…a proper fancy tool to own!
Pros: Depending on the brand you may have options to cut fancy borders, cut a slit in the middle of the paper or even score the paper.
Light weight so easy to carry around.
Cons: The biggest negative of these for me personally was that they need replacement blades and if you are buying them online you have to keep in mind the availability of the blades too!
A bit of online research with price and feature comparison is required to find the right one for your needs!
If you are not sure about the brand, do insist on testing it before you buy. I was excited to find one at a local stationary shop in Bangalore but to my disappointment on testing at the shop the cutting quality was atrocious! [Maybe it was an old piece or the company was inferior but my advice would be to be cautious if you do see it at your local shop!]
Have no idea if they are strong enough to cut foam and cardboard [dear friends do share your views]
More Information: Tejal’s wonderful post on Paper trimmers  
4.Craft knife
Regular Craft Knife
Craft Knife
This is one tool which will give quality cutting even with the cheap variety!! I use the craft knife for kirigami, origami architecture projects, pop up cards and 3 D paper crafts.
I buy the 10 rupee variety and am fine with it! Have tried expensive versions but the blades need replacement no matter which brand you use so you might as well go with the cheaper version!
Pros: Cheap. Easily Available. Common brands come with “break off” spare blades.
Cons: You need a cutting mat or the kitchen cutting board to lay your paper on so that the knife doesn’t cut through and leave marks. The blades blunt fast and if you cut with a blunt blade you get ugly jagged edges and even torn paper. Breaking off the blades when they blunt is not something I relish doing as snapping them off is often not easy as it looks!
EditedTejal shares that the Camel brand craft knife blade stays sharp for long…I have to go hunt for it!
Small tip craft knife/Swivel Knife
Swivel Knife

I bought this knife as part of a Cut N Tuck kit by Shilpi Company. It’s available for sale individually too and many craft shops will sell the knife as part of the set.
Pros: Very fine knife suitable for delicate cutting. Cut N Tuck templates cut best with this swivel knife.
Cons: I would say its expensive as its around 200-300Rupees and the blades break so easily even with one use! If you don’t use the knife in the prescribed angle and manner the blade breaks! The photo shows the broken swivel knife blade and the tiny spare blade
Swivel Knife
The blades are not easily available to buy and are comparatively expensive too. Apart from Cut N tuck projects I do not really relish using this delicate knife!
5.Fringing Machine
Quilling Fringer
These are fun tools which can cut a paper strip into perfectly even fringes in no time at all! It’s a cleverly designed machine which feeds a paper strip into a mini guillotine which cuts the paper strip into fringes on an up and down motion of a lever. There are 2 types of fringing machines available: one cut at 90 degrees and one cuts at an angle.
Pros: Fringing paper using the normal scissors is time consuming and you need to have a knack to cut your fringes evenly spaced. The machine works like clockwork to cut a paper strip into beautiful even fringes.
The fringed flowers made using the machine fringed strips have a professional look as the cuts are so fine and even!
Cons: Expensive costing 1800- 2500 rupees
Can only cut paper of a particular width [eg 1cm]...Anything more and the paper will not fit; anything less and the cutting goes haywire!I found at some seller sites that the machine can cut a width range of 1/4 to 3/8 inch by some adjustment[I have not tried to screw around with the adjustments for fear of breaking it apart !!]
Needs evenly cut paper strips as otherwise midway the paper can get stuck or even be cut through
The less expensive fringing scissors is more versatile as the paper width will not be a restrictive factor!
You have to get into the knack of using the machine and if you are a bit careless with the up and down lever movement the paper gets cut through instead of being fringed!
Not easily available in India [Have seen it at Devi & Co and Itsy Bitsy Bangalore]
You have to test it before buying as I found one at a reputed craft store which would not cut properly at all!
In the end you might as well take out the scissors and fringe your paper in the usual way as a bit of imperfection in the fringing may not matter to you!
6.Shape Cutters
Circle Cutters:   Circle cutters are marketed by many big brands such as Fiskars, Martha Stewart etc
Pros: fun tool to have especially if you want to cut clean circles accurately
Cons: You need to buy online or from a dedicated craft shop which imports it as not easily available in Indian stationary shops. Blades need replacing.
Tips before buying: If you have a die cutting machine with circle dies that may work for small to large circles and if you want to cut small circles the circle punch is an easier and cheaper option! And do consider how frequently and how much you need to cut circles before splurging on this fancy tool!
Compass Circle cutter
Circle Cutter
Pros: Available in India in major stationary shops, not as expensive as Fiskars and Jef shape cutters
Cons: Not very easy to use. I bought one ages back but found that simply cutting a circle with the scissors was easier than using this!
I would not advise to let your KIDS use it as its difficult to handle!!
Blades need to be replaced and though the Olfa brand comes with a couple of spare blades , the blades are not easily available to buy!
Other Shape cutters with built in shape templates are available in an amazing range of shapes such as circle, oval, star etc. Brands available in India-Jef [Itsy Bitsy, Mahavir traders], Fiskars 
Fiskars Shape Cutter [Image from Fiskars site]
The Jef shape cutters come in huge nesting templates of a particular shape. The Fiskars shape cutters are smaller and different shapes come in a packet.
Pros: Would be fun to just slide the blade and cut out shapes!
Cons: Needs replacement blades which are not easy to get in India. The shop I saw the shape cutters in didn’t stock the replacement blades and though I was really tempted to buy I did not in the end!
7.Paper Shredder
Hand rotated Paper Shredder
Paper shredders are quite in demand these days by the paper crafters especially those who enjoy quilling. Paper shredder can shred paper into tiny bits or into strips. The type which shreds paper into strips is the variety popular with paper crafters.
Hand shredders are available in the Indian market costing 500-1000 rupees.
Battery operated or electrical shredders can be bought from stationary shops such as Reliance and Staples but are more expensive and may not be necessary for crafting purposes.
Pros: Works out more economic than buying quilling strips.
Would be a handy tool for quillers who don’t have easy access to buying quilling strips
You can hand paint the paper and shred it to create some unique shades [advantage over store bought strips]
Much faster than using a paper cutter or hand cutting—using a shredder you can create paper strips from an entire A 4 paper in seconds!
Cons: The paper strip width is a standard 3 mm and so you are limited by the paper strip width.
The edges have a mild wavy texture which you may not like for some projects though I personally love the appearance of it!
Not worth buying if you don’t quill loads of stuff!
Next in Paper cutting Tools series
8.Die Cutting Machines
9.Electronic Cutting Machines and
10.Craft Punches  - Click this link for  Craft Punch Use and Care
I hope my experienced paper crafter friends can chip in and add a tool, tip or technique which I missed out. Also do share your experience about a particular tool or product as it will be so helpful to all and I will edit this post accordingly

98 comments:

  1. Great post! Loved reading pros and cons about everything you listed. Love the idea of a paper shredder for creating strips of paper and was already picturing using my electric paper shredder but then I remembered mine does not cut strips :( Also I do not have any experience with any tools so I can't help expand your fantastic post.
    Michaela xx

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    1. Yes Michaela the one used in offices to shred documents cuts it in tiny pieces which you can use as confetti!!

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  2. Oh wow! So nice of you to share such a detailed post :) Appreciate the effort and time put in...

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  3. Sonia
    It is always so nice to hear how other people use their tools and what they think of them.
    Your tutorials are always so clear and easy to understand.
    Myrna

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  4. Thanks for sharing and hatsoff to your patience.

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  5. Thank you so much Doc for all thn info!! I had bought a paper trimmer just 5 months back.a fancy one with a cutting and a scoring blade.. You must have noticed I have not really made that many projects as yet . I had to stop using it 2 months back as it gave horrifying results!! Sometimes my PP would get torn:-( !! Its good that I ended up misplacing the cutting blade somewhere. Blade is not available anywhere and now ...SO... I just slide in my paper..score it and without removing the paper..cut along the groove(acts as a guide) using the craft knife...
    My brand was Circuit...it has a plastic scale under which I had to slide the paper..no more than 220-240 gsm.(.cutting cardboard...a dream!! Lol!!) although didn't ever try cutting foam...but I guess it couldn't it as well...
    Now I plan on buying Fiskars...just waiting for the rupee to get better in the market;) hope someday I will!!
    Thanks a lot !! Waiting for the next post:)

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    1. Jaya do be cautious before buying the Fiskars I saw many negative reviews of it ..shall try and get you the link. The guillotine is amazing and if you are ready to splurge buy the Deli its a dream cutter!

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    2. Thank you so much!! I'm so glad I didn't buy it as yet!

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  6. What a fantastic post, love all the pros and cons you noted. Thanks so much Sonia. Also thought your post about craft stores in India was really interesting. Now I know what to post on my blog today....Craft stores in Cairns. Thanks for the inspiration.

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    1. Merry in India its very very difficult to get even basic stuff such as card stock..I often travel more than an hour when I have to buy card stock!

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  7. Very enlightening. Thanks for researching and sharing.
    A good week!

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  8. A plethora of wonderful info. I would really like a mini paper shredder & not seen any here. We have a large one for shredding important documents & such but the mini one would be handy for paper crafting.
    Melissa
    "Sunshine HoneyBee"

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    1. Melissa I think its most popular for quilling and paper strip weaving but my little one made some fun hair for her doll with it too!

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  9. I personally recommend deli cutter,i use it for past 2 years and i love it:)
    As far as fringing machine its to expensive,although it cuts very fine,its not easy to handle.As the machine is way to small it creates lot of pressure in our hand n its pains a lot in the end and it too take time to fringe,not very fast.Mine is just lying in the corner after 2-3 uses,instead you can buy fringed flowers die from quilled creation,i guess it will be lot more easy and can cut a strip in less than a min.

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    1. YOu said it Kavi!!! The quilling fringer is one of my buys which I personally consider a "waste"!!

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  10. Wow your tip on the guillotine paper cutter is just what I needed. I want to get one but didn't know which one. Glad to know its available locally in Staples and the like and that there is a range of sizes available. Felt quite blind when deciding which one to pick up. Thanks so much Sonia!
    P.S Eagerly awaiting your post on electronic cutting machines. Do we really need them?
    ItsyBitsy - The Blog Place

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    1. Sunehra if Commercial street is nearer to you try Orion Paper mart Ebrahim street . I bought my Deli from Staples Garuda mall
      And yeah I have not been tempted to buy the electronic ones but then before I bought the Bigshot I didnt know it was so fun either!!

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    2. I've ultimately decided against the guillotine cutter. Reason being my 2 little tots. One is 3.5 and other is 1 and if either of them get their curious little fingers on them, it may be the last we see of those precious fingers. So I've gone in for a Fiskars trimmer. Hopefully it will be money well spent.

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  11. Great tools! Thanks for sharing your tips!

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  12. Very useful information Dr. A good scissor and a good craft knife is a must for every crafter. I had purchased a swivel knife from a local craft shop but found it very difficult to cut thru Cut n Tuc templates. I think the normal one is way more useful than that. I don't have any other tools listed here. I usually use a normal chopping board and my craft knife to cut cards and other stuff. I do wish to buy a good paper trimmer in future. Thanks for sharing this info.

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    1. Indira the guillotine paper cutter helps save time when you want to make unusual sized cards and 3 D projects..I us it all the time

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  13. Oh my my ... What a great informative post dear. So much efforts u have taken. I am sure whenever I will plan to buy next of my craft supply in series , I will hop on your blog for the much required information.

    Thanks a ton :)

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    1. Thank You so much Jyoti....just thought I would share some of my blunder buys so that others can take a wiser decision!!

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  14. Excellent post. Full marks for the detailed research and explaining it so well, Sonia.

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  15. OMG Sonia..you are such a dear..people don't have so much patience for others..Thanks soo much and mine fringer is also a waste..I just used it for few projects..

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    1. Yes Smita I agree totally ...a big waste of the 2800 rupees I had spent on it!

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  16. Dear Sonia,
    thanks for sharing this valuble input, for people like me to invest on craft products - it is a good review. I want to mention here one observation here regarding crafty scissors for the beginners.If it is aluminium based one, pls don't buy and it is waste of money. finishes are not accurate. steel one much better.

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    1. Thank You for the input Shylaashree. For crafting I use a general purpose scissors by the brand Cartini bought from a local supermarket..I dont know the material its made of but its awesome !

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  17. Thank you for this detailed post on the pro's and con's of the important craft tools Dr sonia...i too concur with kavi on the fringing machine its one of the expensive buys which i really regret!!and i have a ques abt the Deli cutter...how much does it cost?? and would you knw whether it would be available in any store in kolkatta or chennai??

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    1. Hussena the Deli cutter range is from 1000 I think. Mine was around 2900 as its huge!! I dont think you need a huge one for crafting purposes but its super helpful for school projects. In Bangalore itself a shop may have it at one time and be out of stock the next time I visit. Your best bet would be to try large stationary shops and I love the Deli compared to the other cheaper brand I got!

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  18. Hello sonia,

    Excellent post...It is very useful for the people who are starting with the card making.It is so helpful to me... Thank you.

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  19. Thank you for posting all those -some I knew,some I didn't- but the fact is that I try to manage things in my way as most of them are so expensive and I didn't sold any of my creations to be worthing these investments!
    How's Pisha feeling about going to school? I think she's a brave girl and she'll be having a success after another!
    cheers and:
    AN EXTREMLY HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!!
    (have a bit of cake for me !!!)

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  20. Great article, Sonia. I have never seen fringe scissors or a fringing machine. In fact, I didn't know either existed.

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    1. Teresa quilling is very popular in India so we get to know about all kinds of quilling tools

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  21. Hmm, and I thought that I have lot of cutting tools :)thank you for enlightenment :)

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  22. Thanks a lot ! I knew just the scissors and fringer other tools are new to me.This post will be helpful to new crafters like me who can weigh the pro and cons before investing in a tool ! Thanks for your comments also..I have updated the washi doll post with link to original tutorial !

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    1. Pooja Thank You ...makes writing this post so worthwhile!

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  23. Wow, you are so sweet to share this info, Sonia!! It had to take you a lot of time, but all of the information is fabulous!! You are such a kind and generous blogger, sharing your tips and tutorials...and it is appreciated!! Have a great day :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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    1. Lisa blogging is about sharing isnt it!! And I just wanted to help my friends not to make the mistakes I made!

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  24. Hi Dr. Sonia S V...I noticed on The Outlawz that it was your birthday today so I popped over here to wish you a very happy one, best wishes for the year to come!! :) your friend in crafting, big inky hugs

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    1. Oh Thank You so much so sweet of you!

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  25. TIS IS REALLY A ADORABLE POST...FRINGING TOOLS aah new to me and gr8 abt tis post..copyng them friend...

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  26. Fringing scissors I didnt know about those
    I think I will get me one
    thanks

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  27. Wow, a great post Dr. Sonia!!! There are two things here added to my want list, the shringe scissors and the paper shredder! Thank you for making me laugh by your comment on my blog.. lol

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  28. Thankyou for sharing. This post is really informative n helps me a lot.

    Sudha
    sudha-kalra.blogspot.in

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  29. Oh Sonia!!! You have got a treasure trove of information in this post!! Seriously!! This is gng to most viewed post soon!! Oh my I could imagine the effort you had put in , writing up this post!! very useful!!You will become the darling of many!!

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    1. You are too kind Priya...I was working on this post for long and only now got around to posting it!

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  30. Great information. Thanks for sharing.

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  31. This is so useful, thanks for sharing sweet Sonia!

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  32. Thanks for all the info Sonia. I never thought of getting a paper shredder for quilling..Loz

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    1. Loz my little one uses it to make hair for her dolls!

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  33. This is an email comment to this post from the awesome Pritesh of quilling me softly someone whom I hold in the highest of regards:
    Scissors: I heavily recommend Faber Castell scissors. They are pretty much the best you get in India (unless you opt for Fiskars or something, imported). I've Faber Castell, local and Fiskars, all three. Fiskars wins hands down but costs INR 1000 or so.

    Fringing scissors: I possess one and I also have a fringing machine. In the end, both turned out to be useless. It never happens that the blades of the fringing scissors are perfectly aligned. Result: You don't get good uniform strips. I won't recommend it anywhere where the even spacing of lines is visible/required. I have them both from Shilpi (Mumbai) and Sudha (Delhi). Neither work properly and I finally am using it as coriander scissors in my kitchen.

    Small tip scissors: An absolute MUST for anyone working with quillography. It's almost my right hand when I am working with precise cutting like edges in text. Quilled Creations has a terrific one where the metal of the blade actually tapers to less than one mm thin at the tip.

    I don't have a guillotine cutter but am considering buying one. I used to have one by a Swedsih company in Stockholm but I found that towards the end, it never cut the paper absolutely straight. I'm VERY hung-up about perfect cutting, so I eventually stopped using it. I cut much better myself with a metal ruler and cutting mat.

    Sharp knife: I use a knife made by a company called Clas Ohlson in Stockholm. They have a fantastic sharp tip knife that works like magic. The blade has already lasted me 6 months. :) For anyone who like paper cutting of the fine type, I recommend investing in a good paper knife. It's a lovely thing to have for people like me :)

    I agree with you on the circle cutter. I have a Swedish one but I am not happy with it either. I prefer using my hands. I'm finally getting giant and super giant MS punches to cut my circles. Hope they work :)

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  34. the very talented quilling expert Sathya of http://sathyapapercrafts.blogspot.in/ emailed me a link to an awesome looking scissors which she says is awesome for fine quilling:
    http://www2.fiskars.com/Products/Crafting/Crafting-Scissors/Titanium-Micro-Tip-Easy-Action-Scissors

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  35. It is always fun to see what tools other artists use.
    Have a great weekend my friend.
    hugs, Diana

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  36. Anonymous21/9/12

    i remember using many of the above mentioned tools in the school while doing SUPW. The post bought back memories.

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  37. Спасибо большое за обзор! Много полезной информации!!!

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  38. Thank you so much for sharing this, I have been crafting seriously since the last 4 years and have not got a good paper trimmer till now, I did have a local guillotine style cutter but the blade wore off. I am going to get myself a deli now.
    Hugs,
    Juhi
    PS: You are my role model...I cannot even imagine how you manage work, home and even find time to write such awesome blogposts, hats off to you!

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    Replies
    1. Juhi you are making me blush by calling me a role model---you are a true professional crafter while I just dabble in this and that!!

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  39. Its an very informative post Dr.Right now i own a swivel knife and fiskars fingertip knife and i am completley happy with both of them. Though i do not have any paper cutter but i will buy in future and all the info. that u gathered will really help me to take a right decision.A wrong buy is always frustrating. Thanks a lot Dr. for sharing this info. which is a need of every crafter.

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    Replies
    1. Glad u like the swivel knife...I just cant get the hang of it and I was reluctant to buy the fiskars fingertip knife after my not so happy experience with the fiskars forceps which I found a waste!

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  40. WoW Doc amazing post!!!!!From past one hour i am just reading this post.Thanks a lot for wonderful information.This is useful post for people like me who want to buy some craft tools which might are not easily available in the country where we live.I must say thanks to you for the post of craft stores across the India.Last year when I came to india and during that short stay I needed to get materials from Mumbai,I got lots of information from your post.

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    Replies
    1. So glad this post and other are helpful makes it worth the time spent researching for it

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  41. Great Post Sonia!!! Many people like me would be benefited from this post... I have been thinking of getting that fringing scissor, paper trimmer, paper cutter..... thanks for this info :)

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  42. Wow, This is interesting reading and I learnt things I did not know!!!
    Thanks so much Hugs Trish xx

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  43. Thank you for this!This is very very useful.I am currently struggling with my almost new paper trimmer.All the edges are coming raggedy and its not even two months since I bought it.I think I would love to go for a guilloine paper trimmer.I saw some options on junglee.com,so people who want to buy these can take a look.
    Can you also cover heating tools.I bought one from american crafts and messed it up within a day.money down the drain.I was supposed to use a voltage converter.I went and checked with an electrician and they said they will probably have to build a custom one.Now I am not too sure if I should look for american brands or go for a local one.:-( If you have any suggestions on how to use tools which are US style ,please please include in the next post.:-)

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    Replies
    1. Thank You Sumi for your input on the trimmer...another friend of mine had told me about the ragged edge problem with handmade paper and paper trimmers.
      I have no experience with heat embossing tools but had read somewhere that you need a special Indian converter for our voltage to work.Lemme see if I can get further info for you!

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  44. Thank you so much for this information. This is so helpful.

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  45. Doesn't matter that you're not an expert, I think it's wonderful just that you so graciously sharing your tool making tips, tricks, and experiences with us all!!! I know we all appreciate it -- thank you!

    Hugs, my friend!

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  46. Hi Sonia! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and leaving me a comment!So glad that you liked my bookmark!
    By the way I have the exact same huge 21 x 16 inch wooden guillotine cutter! I bought it in a street market here in Valencia (Spain) for like 3 euros!
    Hugs from Spain

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  47. Hi sonia,

    Your posts are really so informative. Am no expert in paper crafts, am just a newbie to crafts. I know only a few of the basic tools you listed here. It was great to learn about so many tools. Also, your post on craft supply stores in India helped me sourcing some stores. Thats how I reached your blog through Google actually :) Thank you. It is indeed very helpful information for me.

    Akhila
    Intellection

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    Replies
    1. So glad to hear it was useful--that is the impetus to help me blog!

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  48. Love this post Sinia!!Can't wait to read the next one :)
    Thanks for visiting my blog :)
    Hugs,Sandra

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  49. Thank you for this truckload full of information...you a indeed a boon to new crafters.

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  50. Sonia... god bless u.. u are such a HUGE heart-ed girl.. What a load of info in there... thanks for your time and love :) Hugs

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  51. Dr. Sonia,
    I was thrilled by the proposal help on my blog. I always say that the internet brings to our universe wonderful people. Thank you very much!

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  52. Sonia,

    Awesome post....really informative.... hope this would help so many ppl... :)

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  53. Hi Sonia,

    Wonderful Post..... This is soooo informative... Hope this ll help so many ppl....

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  54. Dear Dr., Thanks for the wonderful tips. I am a retired engineer who wandered in to papercrafting recently. I was interested in carpentry, but the shear cast of tools, wood and strain disuded me from pursuing it further. So I got in to papercraft.
    Mostly I am interested in Kirigami architecture. I have started making my own patterns by seeing others creations. My source is the net.
    My problem is where do you find the proper cards? What are the guidelines?
    Can you help?

    R SUBRAMONIAM, Trivandrum

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    Replies
    1. Dear Mr Subramonian when I ventured into origamic architecture I used photopaper as it was easier to get it in thicker types. But photopaper is more expensive.Also do try "ivory card stock"..should be available in the bigger stationary shops.Be on the look out for thicker chart paper..all work well for origamic architecture.

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  55. Dear Dr, Thanks for sharing such a valuable information. can you please tell me where can i get d Guillotine Paper Cutter [Image from Deli Site] in mumbai.

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    Replies
    1. Try Staples or a big stationary shop

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  56. Hi mam,information given by you is very useful. Can you please tell me where I will get all these tools under one roof.

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  57. pls send m detail of paper quling cutter i am v much intrested in buying it pls send the detail of quiling strips also on m email address temptingcreavities@gmail.com

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    Replies
    1. Mansi I dont sell anything! You can buy the paper shredder /fringer and quilling strips from online shops listed here : Craft supply stores India

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  58. Hi
    I am not a crafter but I love scrap-booking and paper.
    This is a great post that you have written, very very informative.I know it very difficult to get stuff for scrapbooking or making cards here in India especially the embellishments . Can you tell me a place other than hobby ideas for stickers different kinds not the animal and cartoon types.
    I stay in Mumbai

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  59. Trim Cutter Tools- sarindustries.com is a leading manufacturer and supplier company in India. We provide various types of trimming cutter tools affordable price all over the India. Each trimming cutter has easy one-hand-operation, including an easy open and close latch motion, always leaves a free hand to steady work piece.

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  60. Very helpful post. Thanks.

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  61. Very useful information....thank you

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  62. Hi Dr Sonia. this post is very informative. I have taken up paper craft recently. So I landed up here searching for tolls that I need for crafting.

    I have searched for Deli paper cutter which you mentioned above. I could not find any where online. Can you please tel me where I can find it? How much would it cost?
    I want to buy a paper scorer for making cards and envelopes. I read somewhere that ScorPal is a better option. If I buy that, do I need to buy envelope maker(board) too?

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    Replies
    1. I had bought the Deli long back from Staples Bangalore but that shop is closed now and I have not seen it online since years. If you want to make envelopes a martha stewart scoreboard is a better option as it has a triangular envelope maker along with it. The scorpal is a sturdier board but making envelopes with it is not easy

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  63. Thanks a lot Dr Sonia

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  64. Thanks Didi. Kindly help me to get this tools. pleas let me know where I can get this

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  65. Didi, did you please inform where I can get this tools.
    Thanks
    Reetu

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    Replies
    1. Which tool in particular are you looking for? I have a compilation of Craft Supply Stores here : Craft Stores in India

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