Seriously, I'm a paper crafter, but I can't seem to use a craft knife. And by 'craft knife' I mean one of those
When I try, that blade seems to have a mind of its own. Perhaps I just got a bad batch of blades? Maybe it's because I'm left-handed. Yep, craft knifes are only meant for right-handed folks, so it's not my fault!
I had just about given up when I stumbled upon a solution. In October of 2010, I attended my very first Club Scrap® Retreat. One of the projects was the Photo Butler and we were able to use was a small, folding utility knife to cut a window into a piece of thick book board. From the moment I made my first cut with that knife, I knew I had finally found a tool I could use! I bought that knife right after class, and it is still my 'go-to' craft knife!
I get the best results by using the knife in conjunction with my glass cutting mat. I prep the cutting mat by brushing on a 50-50 mixture of Mount-it Adhesive and water. Once you've applied a thin coat of this mixture, let it dry completely.
The cutting mat is now ever-so-slightly tacky and will grip the paper you want to cut. Place your paper on the mat and press evenly. Now line up your ruler and carefully cut along the edge of the rule with firm, even pressure. It works for me every time!
The knife costs about $5-6, and a 5 pack of blades is around $2. The blades are double-ended, so it's like getting 10 blades! You can find knives and replacement blades like this at your local home improvement store. It's great for cutting paper and card stock as well as cardboard. Plus, it goes through thick book board like buttah if you're patient enough to make several passes with the knife.
So if you find yourself craft knife challenged like I once was, give this solution a try and you might find that the right kind of craft knife is nothing to fear!
Until next time, use your new craft knife skills to create something wonderful!
