How to Use a Trimmer in Scrapbooking

Cutting down, or trimming, pictures is an important part of scrapbooking. It shifts the focus of the photograph, eliminates distracting individuals or scenery from the background and allows more photographs to be used on a single page. For many years, those who wanted to crop pictures were forced to do it by hand, or use a heavy straight edge. Now, however, there are a variety of lightweight, portable trimmers designed specifically for those who scrapbook.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Photos or craft paper
• Scrapbooking trimmer

Use a Trimmer in Scrapbooking

1. Look for a scrapbooking trimmer with a self-healing mat and a storage drawer underneath the cutting arm. The mat will keep your unit looking fresh and new, while the storage drawer will give you an extra place to put small tools and excess material.

2. Place the photo or paper you want to cut on top of the trimmer, where the grid is located.

3. Line the top of the photo or paper up with the top edge of the trimmer, taking care to move any material you want to cut off over the right side of the unit.

4. Make sure your materials are placed under the narrow band running parallel to the arm of the trimmer. This will prevent your materials from slipping all over the unit and will increase your chances of a clean cut.

5. Place one hand lightly on the outside edge of the paper or photograph while using your other hand to bring down the arm of the scrapbooking trimmer. The arm should be lowered all the way, with a minimum of resistance.

6. Lift the arm of the trimmer and remove the photograph or paper. You might want to keep any excess material left over for use in another project.

7. Repeat the process when you need to crop more than one side of a photograph or paper, taking into consideration the sides you've already trimmed.

Tips & Warnings

• Purchase replacement blades and keep them in an easily accessible place. The blade on your trimmer can get dull rather quickly, so it's best to have a replacement on hand so you can continue with your scrapbooking project.
• Be vigilant when using a scrapbooking trimmer. The blade on a standard trimmer, especially a new one, can be quite sharp. Avoid getting your fingers caught in the arm of the trimmer by making sure they are always placed several inches away from the blade.