Scrapbooking.com's Precision Punching



	Corner Punches Decorative scissors can made a pretty good border. But if you want a little more intricacy, try corner punches. They come in so many different designs you are bound to find one that suits your style. All corner punches have plastic inserts for the corner guides. These can be pried out by slipping a small screw driver into the middle and forcing them apart. The corner guides can be snapped back into place again so you can use it for its intended use as a corner punch. Once you have the guides out, the punch will allow you to punch along a strip of paper and create a very decorative edge. Place the punch upside down and place your paper into the punch so it hits the back of the punch. The back of the punch will act as a guide to keep your strip even and straight. Your first punch needs to be at the edge of the strip. Look down into the punch and make sure this is a gap in the punched out section where there is no paper. See diagram for a better explanation.
	As you continue to punch, you will need to overlap the edge of each punched out section in order for the unwanted edge to separate for your decorative edge. Using the punch tool like the Power punch from Tapestry in Time will help a great deal with the precision of lining up the punch each time. The 'Tiffany' and 'Give Thanks' layouts use this technique in the most simple way. The punches used create a unique edge that, depending on color, can really add a lot of contrast or blend in with the rest of the layout. Both of these layout are just punched straight across.	Tiffany Give Thanks
	Mammoth	The 'Mammoth' layout uses this technique in the same manner but I have layered two different corner punches. This particular combination did not line up exactly, so I cut apart the white border into individual sections and adhered each section behind each navy blue crown. This seems a little labor intensive but it's not too bad.

	Once you have punched out a border, you will have the 'negative' pieces left over. The Memory Makers Magazine has a punch art book called Punch Your Art Out, Vol. 2. In this idea book, an example is shown using these negative pieces to create snowflakes. You will need six negatives to create a snowflake. Lining them up evenly is the trickiest part. Adhere one and continue around in a circle. Be sure you have the point pointing towards the center. Once you have them adhered, you can shift them a little in order to get them even. Add mini punch shapes to the middle and outside points. The possibilities for design go on forever. Experiment with this fun idea to create your own snowflake page.
	Jon Jon	I have used the technique in the 'Jon Jon' layout. I used the same corner punch for the border around the picture in order to create continuity. My best tip: Don't try to punch a frame out by going all the way around the square. Punch out strips and cut them into four different lengths and piece them around the picture. A few companies that make some pretty great corner punches are Emagination Crafts, Marvy Uchida, Family Treasures, and McGill. Check out the Valentines 1999 (available for view on the 14th of February 2001) layout in CASE layouts for a great idea using decorative corner slot punches.