Skip to content
Menu
Guild of American Papercutters Guild of American Papercutters
  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • GAP Strategic Plan 2021-2023
    • Visit Us
    • GAP Board Team
    • The National Museum
      • Core Permanent Museum Collection
      • The McDaniel Papercut Collection
      • What’s Cooking? (2018)
      • Feathers, Fur, Fins (2017)
      • GAP Celebration (2016)
      • Inspired by Music (2015)
      • Inspired by Nature (2014)
      • Inspired by Words (2013)
    • GAP Committees
    • The Harris Award
    • Our Founders
    • Papercutters Hall of Fame
  • Resources
    • Resources & Projects
    • Traditional Papercutting Styles
    • Traditional Papercut Valentines
    • Papercutters Without Borders
    • Papercutting Reference Library
  • Events and Artist Ops
    • Submit Your Artwork for “Understory”
    • Events Calendar
    • Opportunities for Paper Artists
    • GAP in the News
  • MemberArt
    • Member Art Links
    • Member Galleries
  • Become a Member
  • Log In
Guild of American Papercutters Guild of American Papercutters

Cutting Tools

Papercutters use a variety of cutting implements including small scissors, the ubiquitous Xacto/Excel craft knives (especially #11 blades), medical scalpels and even sheep shearing scissors!  Actual scalpels used by surgeons are popular and used, and available from Cincinnati Surgical and Swann-Morton Surgical (#15a, 10a and 11 blades are the most used scalpel sizes). For extra control, Fiskars Fingertip Precision / Detail Knife uses standard #11 blades as well. Zamberg offers sturdy and precise steel clippers in a small, 7-piece stainless steel manicure set for men. Also offering blades,

Fiskars Fingertip Precision / Detail Craft Knife
Fiskars Fingertip Precision / Detail Craft Knife

knives and scissors of various sizes and finenesses are Paper Panda (UK) and MicroMark, specializing in small hand tools. For specialized uses such as punching, cutting papeles picados, etc., punches are used with a small hammer. Prefabricated punches for various shapes and patterns are available from Joann and other hobby/crafting suppliers. Sets of round die punches (“hollow punches”) can be used to create perfect small circles for stars or other effects. A small set of these can be purchased relatively inexpensively.


Polish papercutting traditions include the use of large (13.5″) sheep shears to cut delicate paper patterns; in this video, Guild Member Carolyn E. Guest demonstrates how she uses her 13.5″ long sheep shearing shears to cut extremely intricate papercut artwork. (This video is the first of three; for the others, go to YouTube and access directly.)

Papercuttings by Alison was a longstanding, beloved source for tools and other papercutting helps, including an amazing array of templates and guides. Now defunct. See our Tribute Page to Alison Tanner and Gloria Cosgrove, and if you can contribute photos, please contact us!

close
The Forest

Paper Work Fan?

Get news of upcoming GAP workshops and other events!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Support Volha!

Loading…

Follow us

We're social!

Browse our Instagram feed

    Powered by Juicer

Take a 2-minute tour of the artwork in GAP's National Museum in Somerset, PA

Search

GAP is proud to be a member of the Arts Coalition of the Alleghenies! Check out their new website to see some of their exciting events, past and present.

Members’ Corner

  • Member Directory
  • All Groups
  • First Cut Newsletter Archive
  • BYLAWS of the Guild of American Papercutters

Guild Online Shop

"shopping bags" by franchiseopportunitiesphotos is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

A Word from our Museum Director

https://youtu.be/MDfcsR3A6s8

The GAP Logo Story

Read the story, get the stickers!

GAP Logo - calligraphy "Guild of American Papercutters"
GAP Logo – designed by Blanche Turner with calligraphy by Karen Shain Schloss

Laurel Arts’ Imagination Garden

Lovely local TV coverage of Laurel Arts’ “Imagination Garden,” with a few glimpses of GAP’s National Museum, whose home is within the Laurel Arts Center in Somerset, PA.

The Imagination Garden

A Home for Paper Artists

Through its publications, traveling exhibits, papercutting conferences, workshops, and demonstrations, members of the Guild of American Papercutters (GAP) seek to spread and celebrate the art of cutting paper. Whether you actively design and cut in paper, or simply appreciate the finished works of papercutters, we invite you to join our community. Our worldwide membership embraces all styles, materials, cutting methods, and experience levels. However you work, whatever your style, you will find kindred artists in the Guild of American Papercutters.

Guild of American Papercutters
P.O. Box 384
214 S. Harrison Avenue
Somerset, PA 15501
USA
Email: GAP@papercutters.org

814.443.2433

Volha Baburyna: Belorusian Papercutting of the UN Declaration of Human Rights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8LcY-kCTBM
©2022 Guild of American Papercutters | Powered by WordPress & Superb Themes