BORDER PUNCH - TIPS & TECHNIQUES

Border punches are used to punch continuous borders along any length of paper.

This is easy enough, start by making the first punch, then slide the paper along in the punch to match the white printed design on either side of the punch base. Matching up your design is particularly easy with the Fiskars border punches as the designs are clearly printed in white on the punch base!

Where you place that first punch, depends on your project and the use of the punched piece.

Beginning at the centre of the edge to be punched will ensure that you end with the same part of the punched design at both ends of the punched piece. Always start in the centre for any paper piece that you want to be symmetrical or if you will be layering the pieces.

To centre that first punch, either use the grid lines on the bottom area of the punch or preferably use the raised notch on the front of the punch, below the punch area (the orange section)

See the picture for a lovely snowflake border

REMEMBER: Practise different punching techniques on scrap paper before starting on your project!

To punch around a corner, use the raised notches on either side of the centre raised notch or the grid lines on the base as your starting alignment point. Using the grid lines, you can adjust the way the punched designs meet at the corners. Begin by placing a straight edge (making sure the edge is against the back of the punch area) before the corner into the punch. Line up the end of the paper with a grid line and punch. Take the paper out and turn the paper so that un-punched side is in the punch. Line the edge up with the same grid line previously used and punch.
So long as you line up with your paper with the same grid line on both sides of your corner, you should have an evenly punched and beautiful corner. 
Choose which grid line you use according to the space you wish between the punched design on the corner - for a wider space, use a grid line far away from the raised guideline on the front and a closer grid line for a smaller space.

Apply the 'punching around a corner' approach to punch squares for scrapbooking and embellishments, but be sure to punch opposite sides to start!

Just look at the pictures to see the lovely embellishments and layering that can be done punchiong around squares or using borders!



I hope you find this helpful and happy punching!



BE SURE TO HAVE A LOOK AT OUR FISKARS CHRISTMAS BORDER PUNCHES !