TUTORIAL: SCALLOP TRIM FRAMES/BORDERS/MATS

Has everyone bought the SU! Scallop Trim Corner and Border punches? Have you tried using them to create a 4-sided scalloped border around your stamped images? Did you give up because you couldn't get the last punch on each side to line up correctly? I think I can help you with that.

Getting a perfect border is all about starting with the perfect measurements. I've played around all morning this morning and created samples for EVERY size square that will fit on a 5 1/2" square card base as well as EVERY size rectangle that will fit on a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2" rectangular card (A5) and I'd like to share the measurements as well as a couple of punching tips with you.

The chart below shows every size square with it's measurement that can be used on a 5.5" square card.

Measurements:

Top Row: 1 15/16", 2 3/8", 2 7/8", 3 3/8", 3 7/8"
Bottom row: 5 1 /4", 4 3/4", 4 5/16"

The smallest square you can make starts with a 1 15/16" square. This smallest square creates a border for items punched with the 1 3/8" and 1 1/4" square punches. For this square you only use the SCALLOP TRIM CORNER PUNCH. The rest of the borders/mats will use both the corner punch and the SCALLOP TRIM BORDER PUNCH.

To create the scalloped border mats, cut your cardstock to one of the measurements shown on the chart. The 3 13/16" square is the easiest to punch because it fits perfectly to the guide on the top of the Scallop Trim Border Punch. This makes it easy to line-up the corners so that all the side scallops punch perfectly.

Begin by using the corner punch upside down to punch each of the 4 corners. I turn the punch upside down (see photo to the left) when punching to make sure the corner and edges of the cardstock are placed correctly in the punch. Be careful not to let the cardstock slip down past the guide edges or you will end up with "tails" and it will be more difficult to line up the border punch.

Once the corners have been punched place the cardstock into the border punch, lining up the scallops with the guide on the top of the punch. Once lined up - punch once and the first side is complete. Turn 90 degrees and repeat until all 4 sides are complete! A PERFECT scallop trim mat! When creating a border in sizes larger than 3 13/16" use the guide to line up the only one corner rather than two.

Creating the scalloped mats in sizes smaller than 3 13/16" is a bit trickier but not impossible by any means. I create these by using the punch upside down so I can see to line up the scallop with the hole on the punch. Once the scallops are in-line with the blades, simply punch then move the cardstock, line up again and punch.

When you get to the last punch on a side, rather than trying to line it up perfectly on both the left and right sides of the punch (as shown in photo above) simply move the cardstock back to the left (so that the left corner of the cardstock is hidden (as in image to the right ) and punch. Sometimes the border will be off by just the slightest margin and if you try to line up both sides you end up cutting off a portion you didn't intend to.

Creating rectangles is easy once you can cut the squares. To make rectangles you simply choose 2 measurements from those provided above. One measurement will be used for the sides of the rectangle and the other measurement will be used for the other top and bottom. Punch exactly as described above.

The largest rectangle that will fit on an A5 sized card is 5 1/4" x 3 7/8".

For todays's card I created a rectangle in Whisper White cardstock using measurements of 4 5/16" and 2 3/8". These measurements provided an even distribution of "white space" on all 4 sides allowing me to play with more designer papers and borders.

Thanks for visiting with me today.

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial and that you will dig out those punches and start playing.

Until Next Time -
Happy Stamping.

Jill