I was working on a project and wanted to use very specific colors. I found 2 of the colors in my WorldWin CutMates collection and 1 color in my WorldWin Smooth & Silky collection, but had to go dig up some paper I bought from a sewing and craft ‘box’ store for other colors.
Oh, the aggravation I suffered! The WorldWin papers cut so nicely with very clean edges. But the box store paper was giving me fits! I threw away piece after piece. I adjusted pressure and speed – again and again and again and again. I could improve it, but it was never going to look like WorldWin paper cuts!! I was getting about one good cut-out shape for every ten or twelve on the sheet. I tried to use scissors to trim off the extra and ended up changing the shape of the cut-out object. NOT ACCEPTABLE!
The problem is that soft, fibrous paper just doesn’t cut cleanly, even on some paper trimmers. There’s too much flexibility to fibers of the paper, and they tend to “move out of the way” of the blade. To get a clean cut, with very little hassle, we typically use a dense and crisp type of paper or card stock. WorldWin paper is perfect for this.
I needed to use these specific colors to match a project so I needed to find a solution for my “off-brand” papers. Okay, so I knew the problem was the fibrous nature of the paper and I thought, “Why not press it?”. If I could somehow compress the paper….I have an iron, I have a heat press – but those just didn’t seem like they would work. Then I realized I have the perfect tool in my arsenal – my KNK!
It never seemed to cut through the paper consistently.
Using the KNK embossing tool, I “pressed” the lines before I cut them. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! Yes, I am screaming with joy! I used the settings for embossing on the mat and embossed all of my cut lines before actually cutting them out. I was then able to get clean cuts on all twelve shapes on a sheet! Hoorah!
Now THAT is more like it!
Materials:
- Fibrous paper
- KNK embossing tool
- Standard blade (red cap)
Settings:
- Emboss settings
- f = 300, v = 450
- Cut Settings
- f = 42, v = 125
I hope this tip helps you to reduce frustration and use up your box store card stock. Happy Cutting!
Brilliant! what settings did you use for embossing? And how high was the embossing tip “blade”. Thanks!
I used 300 force, 450 speed and 3 passes on my Maxx Air. It was set just slightly above the paper (I don’t use anything to set height unless I’m experiencing a problem).
Oh this is so interesting, Michele. I find that Paper Studio paper just doesn’t cut on my Groove-E for the very reason…too fibrous. I through out a whole ream of it before Halloween as the black just wouldn’t cut. Should have kept a sheet or two to try this. Great tip.
I hope it works for you with that paper. I worried that it would break through the paper but it never did. Of course I would just lower the pressure and do more passes if that was an issue.
I am amazed at what some people think of, way to go Michele!
What a wonderful discovery! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you. I have quite a bit of that paper and it was just sitting on the shelf previously – now I can use it up and get rid of it at least!
Genius!! I was having a similar issue with some cardstock on the weekend…I went back to my stash of WorldWin just to make sure it wasn’t the cutter…it wasn’t it was that paper!! I am going to try this, thanks, Michele!
Great, let us know how it goes!
This is HUGE, Michele! Great idea and thank you for sharing it here!
🙂
It is amazing what some people can come up with in a pinch. This is in the GENIUS category!
Thanks so much!
What a superb idea!
Did you use a standard cutting mat whilst embossing?
Thanks for sharing!!
TwitBob
I never would have thought of that, you are clever! 🙂
Wow Michele, this is great. Do you have any idea what settings you might use on the Zing?
Thanks Michelle for the Awesome tip!
This is awesome Michelle! Thank you for discovering and sharing with us. Are there comparable settings we could use on the Zing? I would love to know if anyone who has an embossing tool gives it a try. Also, did you use a special mat? ~Diane