Circles And Scallop Edges Options

[Gabrielle P]

I'm often asked what I use to make the circles in my layouts and how do I make my scallop edges. Okay, first I have to admit that I am not a big gadget girl and I like to save my money for papers and embellies so I don't often buy fancy machines and gadgets. I'm a bit oldschool when it comes to cutting paper and tend to use good old scissors and hand-cutting.

But I DO love to use templates!! My favourite template to use for cutting circles is the Circle doodle template by Crafters Workshop.......it has varying sizes of circles you simply trace onto your patterned paper or cardstock and then cut out. (up until I got that template, I used to try and find the right size plate in my kitchen to use LOL!!!) The template is easy to use and above all inexpensive! And I don't think cutting out the circle by hand takes much longer that some of the fancy gadgets.

For my scallop edges my favourite thing to do lately is ......get yourself a package of the Bazzill "Just the Edge" cardstock strips, there are all sorts of cool scallops, waves and pretty edges in the package. And since there are 2 of each in a package, I keep one set as a template for the edges of my patterned paper and the other to use in my l/o's.

I know there are some really cool edge punches out there now and I have to say I'm tempted to get some......hmmm, maybe with my 40% off coupon at Michaels....LOL!! told you I'm thriftly with the gadgets!!

Do you have a favourite way to make your circles and fancy edges? tell us about it!!

[Pam]

Gabi,

You know I have wanted to ask you how you get your circle shapes etc.. Thanks for the answer. I had to laugh as I read your post
I have been know to have several plates in my scrapbook room to use as patterns. Great tip on the template- I am going to have to get
one. I have tried all the circle cutters and I just have not found one that is easy and quick. I am all about easy to operate and not bulky
in a tool.

Love the tip on the Bazzill scallop edges--great ideas no fancy punch needed. I do have the Fiskars scallop punch but I like your ideas better.
I have also used scalloped paper like the bazzill shape paper for a quick pattern. And the Fancy Pants Scallop on their packaging- makes a great scallop pattern. (comes on the large packages of chipboard and clear albums) Just decoration but a great pattern .


Great tips Gabi--Thanks

Pam

[sandie]

I either use scalloped cardstock as a template, and I also have a Crafters Workshop template that I use alot, I'd like some more of those too!!

[Julia]

I have just treated myself to a couple of Crafters workshop templates. I got the arrows and the dots all around ones and I do plan to get some more.

[PEIgirl]

I used to use plates and other household things too and I would be going all over the house trying to find a just-right size. I recently bought the Crafter's Workshop template too and love it!!! For scallop edges I have a Martha Stewart Rotary Cutter and I have the Fiskars Threading Water punch (a very recent purchase with a coupon!) For the larger scallops I trace a sheet of Bazzill or I trace the overwrap from the Fancy Pants 12x12 chipboard...it's like a big template. I don't mind cutting things out by hand either... I find it's more accurate & quicker than circle cutters which seem to baffle me

[retrojulie]

You say old school, Gabi. That's me, for sure! For circles I use a plain old compass to make circles in any size I want. Then I hand cut them.

As for scallops and zig-zagged edges, a while back I found a package of all kinds of shapes in varying sizes of cardstock at Target. They were horribly ugly colors, but I bought them anyway. As soon as I saw them, I knew they'd be perfect for using as templates. I still have them and use them all the time. I just trace around them and cut them out by hand.

[Robbie]

Ok.... I'll admit it!!! I'm a gadget junkie!!! That's why I own that stupid fastenator!!! LOL!! I actually own 2 computer cutters!!

But... for circles, I love my Curvy Cutter. It is SO easy to use!!! I got it for 50% off with a coupon and love it! I didnt' spend the money on the expensive glass mat, though. I just went to the hardware store and purchased a piece of glass and put masking tape around the edges.

I also got the Fiskars threading water punch with a coupon. I love that thing!! It's one of my favorite tools!!

[retrojulie]

I bought that punch too, Robbie. I use it on occassion, but I don't get what all the hoopla was about. It's just a punch.

[Gabrielle P]

I was thinking about getting the threading water punch.....I always wonder if the scallop is as deep as I'd like it, kwim?

When I first started scrapping I tried out some gadget my sister had bought to cut smaller circles and ruined photo after photo when the gadget would slip.....that kind of turned me off of cutting gadgets. Robbie do you ever run into that problem with the curvey cutter? or maybe that's a more stable tool?

Julie, I like the idea of the compass and smart idea for the 'ugly' decor cardstock!.....only I'm not very good at using compasses, I tend to lose the the diameter/radius? as I go, it changes.....probably because I've tried using a cheap dollarstore compass LOL!!

Amanda, heehee, I used to use the Fancy Pants package wrap too before I found the Bazzill edges LOL!! actually I still use it when I'm looking for a smaller scallop edge!

Julia, I would say you won't regret getting the circle template from Crafters workshop, it's an item I've used over and over and have already gotten every pennies worth out of!

I'm glad to see I'm not the only 'thrifty' scrapper!

[Robbie]

Gabi, the curvy cutter is very stable and easy to use. It has strips on the bottom to keep it from sliding around. Very easy to use. It also will cut a huge circle!

The threading water punch gives a very small scallop with the little holes in the scallops. It is a bit smaller than the fancy pants packaging, I think. Maybe the same size, but I think a bit smaller.

[Gabrielle P]

See, now that gadget I could see using.....I think I've heard praises from a few other people on the curvey cutter too!

Another tool I would recommend along the same lines is the Bo-Bunny Flex ruler (you can also get a similar flex ruler at Staple's made for commercial artists, and I think a little cheaper than the Bo-Bunny version, just not pink).......I got mine free because I won it in a prize package in a contest I had entered.....but I have found it an effective tool. It really helps you get a smooth perfect wave (I used it for the 'forever family' page I did recently) I've tried hand drawing a long wave for a page design and scribbled over and over it to get a 'just right' design.....but with the flex ruler you just maneuver the shape of the ruler intill it is exactly as you want it, then draw it out and cut it......it's a no fail tool!

Robbie I saw the big sell out that sb.com was having on the 'threading water' punch and was tempted to order it.....but my shipping from them starts at $16.00 so I didn't find it quite the deal it was for all the girls living in the US, kwim?.....so I've been watching for it at Michaels (to use with my 40% off coupon, but so far they've had every other punch in except this one LOL!)

[Robbie]

I heard that they were very hard to find. When I saw it, I scooped it up!! $16 for shipping? WOW!! I would be REALLY careful about what I ordered!!!

[retrojulie]

Robbie, the scallop on the threading water punch is actually kind of small and shallow. I'd estimate each scallop is only 1/4" wide and 1/8" deep (if that). It's very close in size to the small felt scallop that comes in the FP felt.

Speaking of the punch - does anyone know how to go around corners with it? I've tried and it always ends up looking wonky!

[Robbie]

I have been meaning to try that, but haven't yet. I would love to know if someone has figured it out!!

[retrojulie]

OK, I did a little googling and I turned up this tutorial.

I hope I'm allowed to post this here. If not, I'm sorry Pam I'll never do it again!

http://wildsmiles.blogspot.com/2008/03/thr...naling-tag.html

[Robbie]

Thanks Julie! I'm going to have to try it!

[Susan]

I just tried it...no problems! Not too bad for a first try!

[Susan]

Okay....I always want all the new products and I probably have them!! I have the EK Success curvy cutters (round and oval), the Crafter's Workshop circle template, and the scalloped template, the threading water punch, and sometimes I use the shaped cardstock and the packaging from FP stamps! ~Blush~ and I also have the 12" QK scallops....I know, I know....I'm SOOOOOO bad! I want it ALL!

[Robbie]

Yeah!! Another gadget girl!!!

[Emmy]

I have just ordered the water threading punch from sb.com with a gift certificate that I got there. I wont get it until Laura (Pandy) comes back to Sweden though and I can't wait to use it! I have a friend that is close to addicted to it. She uses it on almost all of her LO's right now!

Other than that, I have the circle templates from Fiskars. I have tried the cutting thingy that you can buy too but I didn't find it good at all so I just trace the templates with a pencil and cut them out! I actually used them the first time yesterday for my flower challenge LO. (which I'm about to photograph and upload right now! )

I like gadgets too but they are quite expensive to buy over here so I don't have that many.