Cutting instructions

[123SA]

Let me say, this would be much easier to explain in person. Be patient and give it a try.


I am cutting 4 1/2 by 6 1/2 pieces.

1. For practice mark a piece of 12x12 paper TOP, Bottom, Left, right. Mark the back too make sure the tops match etc. My sample is pink on the front white on the back.

2. Figure out where 6 inches is on the side of your cutter

on my cutter, the screw in the arm of the blade is around 6 inches. You may want to permanently mark this point.

3. align the left margin of the paper to 4.5 inches using the measurements along the top of the cutter.

4.Cut the paper to where you think 6.5 inches is. You don't want to over shoot it. If you go over 7 inches, you won't be able to get 4 mats.

5. This is the hardest step. Flip the paper over -- pull the top toward you so that you now have the back of the paper showing, and it is upside down. The partial cut you made will be in the lower left corner.

6. rotate the paper once to the right. align the left margin to the 6.5 mark along the top of your cutter. Now the partial cut you made is in the upper left quadrant. Cut slowly until you hit your previous cut.

Odds are, you didn't cut to perfectly 6.5 inches in the first cut. If you overshot it, you will have a mat at this point. If you undershot it, you need to put the paper back in its original postion and finish the cut.

It gets easier from here.

Put the paper back in the original position.

Rotate once to the left. Align left margin to 4.5 inches along the top. Cut. trim your piece to 6.5 inches.

put the reamining piece back in the original position. Rotate 2 times to the left (bottom is at the top now). Align left margin to 4.5 inches along the top. Cut. trim your piece to 6.5 inches.
THis photo is a bit confusing -- I didn't line it up to 4.5 inches until after i took the photo -- sorry.

cut the last piece to 4.5 x 6.5

Okay --- this sounds horribly confusing but try it. It is not hard to do with practice. I had to keep referring back to the original position, but when you get the hang of it, you won't have to. It is just a series of cuts and turns.

Let me know if there is anyway I can make these directions better.

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

Won't you be mad if I send you a mat with some words written on them?




Thanks for the instructions. I will test them out tomorrow when I'm not so loopy from being up past my bed time.

 

[calanniebu]

Not sure what the instructions are for but, I have that paper AND that cutter ;-)

 

[New England Eeyore]

Thanks! I will definitely try that out.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I need to take pics of my technique and post it. It's similar.

 

[TPCShauna]

Please share all methods for utilizing the most out of a 12x12 sheet. I spend a FORTUNE on cardstock.

Great directions, Susan. Thanks for sharing!

I'm looking forward to yours also, Buffy!

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I don't draw the lines first, they are just for demonstration. I use the leftovers for deco squares and the center for journal boxes. I think it's a similar concept 123SA's.

 

[123SA]

Yes, it is similar. Except I don't cut out each rectangle separately -- so I am left with just that square in the middle with the little sticks cut off.

 

[Mrs.Charming]

This is already saving me paper!!! Thanks!!!

 

[SusieStone]

A twist I do to it - I cut everything 5 X 7 and then I go back to cut the smaller dimensions as I need them plus it helps me reduce my mistakes in forgetting what size I am suppose to be cutting.

 

[123SA]

A twist I do to it - I cut everything 5 X 7 and then I go back to cut the samer dimensions as I need them plus it helps me reduce my mistakes in forgetting what size I am suppose to be cutting.

That's a good idea. For the Year round swap, I cut the wrong size twice!

Do you cut essentially the same way?

 

[SusieStone]

That's a good idea. For the Year round swap, I cut the wrong size twice!

Do you cut essentially the same way?

Yep. It makes things so much easier.

 

[missesdisney]

Now one would think that with my accounting degree and 9 years of software consulting that my extremely logical brain would have thought to move the darn pieces around on the cardstock to get 4 out of it and not just 3 that I was getting my lousy way!!!!!

Worst part is - I had to read susan's then see buffy's after to toally have the aha moment! Thanks so much ladies!

 

[jenr812]

awesome! TFS

 

[TinkerBean]

Thanks you 123SA -

 

[calanniebu]

hey BAMB, how do you like your MM cutter?

 

[SusieStone]

hey BAMB, how do you like your MM cutter?

You didn't ask me....but...

I have the same cutter and I absolutely love it.

Best one I have ever bought.

 

[calanniebu]

You didn't ask me....but...

I have the same cutter and I absolutely love it.

Best one I have ever bought.

That's quite alright! I appreciate the feedback. I actually have the same one that's pictured in the OP's demo but it's hard to lug around.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I don't really use it that much because it's big and I tend to scrap where ever there is a clear surface. But I do like it and I can cut thin chipboard which I really like.
I will use it more when we get my scrap space done.

 

[New England Eeyore]

I have to say a huge Thank you!!! for posting these instructions. I finally put them to the test today cutting some photo mats. I wanted to use a color that I wouldn't have had enough for using my old method, so I decided to try this. I think I made a little modification to your instructions, but as long as I got the first cut right I was golden. Thanks for helping me stretch my scrapping dollars!