punches are some of the oldest and easiest tools to use in crafting. with a wide variety of styles available and their ready availability pretty much everywhere, why not pick up a few?
there are a few types of punches: a border punch allows you to create a decorative edge along the side of a piece of paper; a corner rounder rounds the corners of photos or paper; a shape punch comes in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, from dinosaurs to trees to alphabets; a hand held punch is for making a tiny punched shape, like the type used to make holes in paper for binders, and they come in many designs as well, such as hearts, stars, and the like. not going to talk further about the corner rounders, because they’re pretty self explanatory…want something with a rounded edge? use a corner rounder.
now as for the others:
using border punches
using a border punch eliminates the need for buying pre-cut border strips. when using this type of punch, start by lining up the end of your paper with the center of the punch (there is a little line in the center for this purpose). then, use the picture on the side of the punch to line up the paper and repeat the design until an entire border has been punched. some ideas:
- punch one side of a strip for a single border
- punch both sides of a wider strip and use as a mat for photos
- punch a few strips and layer for a “ruffled” look
border punches are not just for scalloped borders…many fun designs out there including drippy goo and cityscapes.
using shape punches
this type of punch is mostly used for making shapes to use as a surface embellishment. with a vast array of shapes and sizes available, you can make a perfect accent for just about anything.
- punch several sizes of the same shape and layer them. use many sizes of circles and embellish with a button or brad to make your own paper flowers.
- punch many small squares and create a mosaic effect.
- use a larger punch to punch a shape, then stamp with the design of your choice to make gift tags.
- confetti!!!!!
using hand held punches
tiny punches can be fun to use on a page. some ideas:
- punch tiny shapes on premade borders for even more detail.
- use a 1/8″ circle punch to create holes for brads.
- again, confetti!!!!
