Build Your Tool Kit - Trimmers

What's in your paper crafting tool kit? Just starting out? Do you need help building your tool kit? This brand new series may be just what you need. Every scrapper and card maker begins card making with tools, some basic and some more advanced tools. With the Build Your Tool Kit series, each week I am going to look at what's in my tool kit and also what you can buy at a good deal. I will look at the tools and how their best used, their quality, my own personal reviews (if I have one) and other's reviews.

In this week's Michael's ad, Punches and Trimmers are buy one, get one for 50% off. Every tool kit needs a good, quality trimmer. Sure, you can cut your paper with a scissors - but I for one can NOT cut a straight line to save my life. I use the trimmer every time I make a card or scrapbook page. It's probably one of my most used tools.

My first trimmer was an Xacto from Walmart  It was pretty hot pink and black...but it did not cut straight enough for me. I found that when I pushed down on the cutter to slide it my paper or the blade seemed to shift. I couldn't tell it was crooked until I turned the paper to line it up to cut another side. That's when I saw the paper was laying flush against the top ruler guide - which should indicate a straight edge.  

From there, I went to Michael's. They were having a sale on Recollections trimmers. Rather than spend the extra to pick up the more expensive, I bought the Recollections brand. It cut great. I used it for about two weeks when I started noticing the black painted lines for measuring were rubbing off.  Frustrated, I went back to Michael's and bought the Fiskar's brand.  Since I was focused on making cards at the time, I picked up the 9x9 trimmer and an extra scoring blade.  Later, when I began getting into making scrapbook pages I revisited and picked up a larger, Fiskar's brand trimmer. My smaller trimmer fits neatly into my small took kit bag, so it goes with me everywhere I go. If I know I am going to need the larger trimmer, I will pack that separately but most times my small trimmer is adequate.

The size you buy will be dependent upon what kind of crafter you are. You will need to ask yourself a few questions before buying a trimmer. Do you make 12 x 12 scrapbook pages? Or do you focus mainly on smaller scrapbooks such as 8 x 8 or 8 1/2 x11?  Are you strictly a card maker? If you only use paper that's 8 1/2 x 11 then a smaller 9x9 trimmer may be the best for you, but if you are an avid scrapper, or plan to become one, then stick to a trimmer that will cut 12 x 12 paper. 

Without a trimmer, your tool kit will be incomplete. So whether you buy one with a 40% off coupon or take advantage of this week's deal, you should seriously consider investing in a good one.