Sunday 11 May 2014

I would like to introduce....

Hello friends
Today while I'm sunning myself (hopefully) in Torquay, 
I would like to introduce you to the extremely talented Clare Willcocks.
Clare is a guest on my blog today and showing us the incredible world of paper cutting.
Here is her guest blog post...

Hello everyone! My name’s Clare and I can normally be found drawing, crafting and paper cutting over on my blog www.clarewillcocks.blogspot.co.uk.

I’m thrilled to be featured here on the lovely Hope and Chances Creativity blog today and hope you enjoy the following paper cutting tutorial.

Paper cutting has been a popular craft throughout history, thought to have begun in China as early as the 6th century. Nowadays it’s embraced by artists from all over the world, with styles and techniques varying to produce everything from tiny intricate patterns to 3D masterpieces.

So, if you’re ready to give it go, let’s begin!

 Tools and Materials

It’s easy and inexpensive to get started, you’ll just need the following:

·        Self-healing cutting mat
·        Craft knife (this one from Hope and Chances Creative is perfect)
·        Good quality paper or thin card for cutting
·        Coloured background paper or card

I’ve designed a free template which you can simply download and print onto the thin card or paper of your choice. I’ve used Papermilldirect card which is available from Hope and Chances Creativity. It’s a great choice because it’s lightly textured which adds a little more interest to the finished paper cut.

 Click here for the free template.

You can enlarge the template or reduce it to as small as you feel you can cut! For this tutorial, I’ve resized it to approximately 12cm in diameter.

Ready, steady, go!

Begin by cutting out the grey sections inside each leaf. Always cut away from points and corners. Try to apply even pressure and work slowly.

Then move on to the centres of the flowers. Follow the edges of the grey shapes as closely as possible.
When you’ve cut out all of the centres, it should look something like this from the right side.
Continue cutting out the petals of the flowers and the inner sections of the butterfly. This may be a little tricky, especially if you’ve scaled the template down, but just go slowly and remember to cut outwards from corners.
Once all the middle sections are cut out of each shape, you can start on the in between bits. Work from one side of the circle to the other as the card keeps its strength better this way.
And there you go, your first paper cut!

Now for another fun bit – deciding on a background colour. Look at this lovely selection of Papermilldirect card I had to choose from!
After much deliberation, I finally decided on bright pink!
If you feel you need to, you can stick the paper cut down before you frame it. Use a cotton bud to dab PVA glue on the back - Cosmic Shimmer works brilliantly. Take care not to apply too much, otherwise it’ll squish out to the front of the paper cut.

I hope you’ve found this tutorial useful, if you’ve got any questions, just pop by my blog 
and I’ll be happy to help!  You can also find me on Facebook here.

Thank you Clare - it has been lovely having you as a guest on my blog.
Don't forget I stock the Papermilldirect card that Clare has used in the shop. 
I will be back soon friends with more posts - until then take care.

35 comments:

Magzeeann said...

Morning Christine. I hope that the sun is shining on you all in Torquay.Thank you Clare for the very clear tutorial and interesting project ~ I will be trying this soon! Hugs,
Maggie x

AnneRD said...

Good morning Christine, I hope you are enjoying the start of your break.
A great tutorial Clare, very clear instructions, and a lovely end product. Sadly I am not sure if my cutting skills will be up to this, but will certainly give it a try. Anne x

Jean Z said...

Hi Christine, I use to do this paper crafting but my hands are too painful now . Looks lovely and very neat . love Jean Z xx

Mrs B said...

Hi Christine. I hope that you are all settled in the hotel and are relaxing. The weather is not good up here in Oxfordshire but I hope it is better in Torquay. The steam train that you can get from Paington Station is a lovely trip and is a good way to see lots but without getting wet! And the Paington amusement arcades are good too, we allow ourselves a max limit of £3 each and see who can win the most on the 2p machines, another wet weather activity. Still can't beat rapping up and walking on the moors or along the beach though :)(My husband was born quite near to Torquay and has lots of relations down there so we know the area well)
Clare, thank you for a wonderful tutorial, I will be off to look at your blog in a minute : )
Have a good day. Take care.

Mrs B said...

Sorry, wrapping rather than rapping will keep you drier!x

lydia jordan said...

Morning Christine,
Hope you are all settled in the hotel and possibly just having a full English breakfast, hope the weather is better than in Kent.
Great creation and tutorial from Clare, but I know that I would never be able to cut like that with a craft knife. Thank goodness for die cutting machines.
Take care.
Lydia
X

Anonymous said...

Belinda Raven said...

What a great idea to have Clare as a guest today whilst you're in Torquay. Thanks for the tutorial and lovely paper piece Clare, I will have a go.

Belinda x.

Lynn said...

Morning Christine, I hope your journey was good yesterday, and that you're starting to chill. I'm not sure I have the patience to do paper cutting, but I'll definately have a go, what an amazing finished result. Hope the weather gets better, Torquay is supposed to be the Enlglish Riviera so you never know! Lynn xx

marg said...

Hello Christine
I hope you slept well !
This paper cutting is a bit too intricate for my Arthritic fingers, but it looks wonderful..and so much patience needed too!
Hope you have some sunshine and not much wind today Christine!
Take care
Love Marg

Wendy L said...

Glad you are having a good time.
This creation looks amazing, xxx

Stamping Bubbles said...

Morning Christine
I hope the sun is shining on you in Torquay.
Thank you to Clare for the wonderful tutorial - great instructions and photos. Not sure if I have the patience to do this though.
Lesley

nattyboots said...

Hi Christine and Clare
I do hope the sun is shining for you Christine as here in Cheshire the ground is wet through , the heavy rain woke me up a time or two in the night .

Well Clare, what a lovely craft you have and thank you for your excellent Tutorial .
Sadly i will not be giving it a try ,my Husband has banned me from a craft knife { as i tend to cut my fingers } but i must admit to being very clumsy with a knife it seems like my hand wants to go quicker than my brain , i would never have made a good surgeon lol .
I will have a look at your blog later Clare with a well earned Coffee

Take care all of you
Elaine H X

Lucycat said...

Hi Christine,
I hope you all enjoying yourselves and the weather is being kind,raining here.
Clare's tutorial is really good and the finished cut out is amazing,I will have a look at her blog.
Have a good day. Take care. x.

Chris said...

Hi Christine &Clare,
A beautiful tutorial Clare, I have just had a sneaky look at your blog and your projects are amazing, I'm not sure though if I would have the patience for paper cutting or the skill for that matter, but may give it a go. Thank you for including the template.

Enjoy your day with the boys Christine whatever you decide to do today.
Chris xx

Chris said...

Hi Christine &Clare,
A beautiful tutorial Clare, I have just had a sneaky look at your blog and your projects are amazing, I'm not sure though if I would have the patience for paper cutting or the skill for that matter, but may give it a go. Thank you for including the template.

Enjoy your day with the boys Christine whatever you decide to do today.
Chris xx

ElizabethS said...

Hi Christine and Clare. What a lovely tutorial and so effective. I will have to have a go as I think the effect is beautiful. I actually liked the rainbow effect of the background.
Hope you are having a lovely day sunning yourself Christine.
Elizabeth x

EmmaT said...

Morning Christine and Claire, amazing tutorial, not sure i have the patience but it gives a beautiful effect. Not so sure it is sunny in Torquay if its like the rest of devon and cornwall at the moment, but as they have their own climate you might be dry - fingers crossed! Hugs Emma x

Unknown said...

Hi Christine and boys
Hope you are having a well earned rest and enjoying yourselves.
Great tutorial from Clare, I have never tried this, so now going to have a go, I love the effect.
Sue x

Lacelady said...

Hope you are having a great time Christine. Love the final effect with the paper cutting, but can't see why I would take all that time, when there are dies out there, and I also have a Cameo.

Sandra said...

Happy Sunday everyone,
Christine,Elliott & Mitchell, I hope you are having a relaxing time, looking forward to seeing the photos!
Claire your tutorial is just brilliant, I would have just looked at it and said "no way, impossible" but you have totally simplified it and made it look achievable, thank you!
Huge hugs to everyone
Sandra xxx

SusanP, Kent said...

Hi Christine, hope you're all relaxing into your holiday.
Clare, this was a great tutorial. I've never tried this - looks very tricky, but using your template I'd like to give it a try. Thank you.

baconbits said...

Afternoon Christine
Enjoy the break,
Loved the tutorial have never tried this technique but will give it a go it looks so effective.
TFS
Hugs
Amanda x

Carolyn H said...

Hi Christine, hope you and the boys are enjoying yourselves.
Enjoyed the tutorial, your another very talented lady Clare.
Carolyn x

Janice said...

Hi Christine
Hope you and your boys are having a good time....looks like you are from the photos on FB 😉
Beautiful work Clare, you must have so much patience for all that cutting. Will have a look at your blog later.
I have just got in from the craft show at Biggin Hill, which I really enjoyed, so a cuppa is in order!
Janice x

Janice said...

Wow Clare, you must have the patience of a saint to cut delicately around the flower shapes. A great idea I will have a go at soon. Janice x

Unknown said...

Hi Christine,

I didn't realise that you were going to Torquay! It's such a coincidence as that's where I grew up, having only moved last year to North Devon. Hope you're having a fantastic time and thank you for having me as a guest on your blog.

Thank you everyone for your lovely comments too.

Clare x

Unknown said...

Hi Christine,

I didn't realise that you were going to Torquay! It's such a coincidence as that's where I grew up, having only moved last year to North Devon. Hope you're having a fantastic time and thank you for having me as a guest on your blog.

Thank you everyone for your lovely comments too.

Clare x

LyndA said...

Hope the sun is shining for you in Torquay. I'm afraid it is pouring down here in the Midlands.
Thank you for the tutorial Clare. I've often thought of having a go at this but it looked too intricate. Now is my chance! xx

LoraineC said...

Hi Christine hope you and the boys have had a good first day. What a beautiful finished project not sure if I have the patience !! X

Patricia Howarth said...

Hi Christine, This is a fabulous tutorial from Clare, and the finished projects is stunning. I would love to be able to do this paper cutting, but to be honest I think my paper cutting skills aren't good enough for this haha, but I will be 'giving it a go'.
I hope your holiday is going well, Christine.
Lots of love from Patricia xx

Jennysis said...

Wow Clare, what a truly wonderful tutorial and Christine, what a fantastic blog! You are both incredibly inspiring!

Jen xx

Sue Jones said...

Thanks so much - I printed it out and am hooked! My effort is on my blog :)

Anonymous said...

Oh my word awesome cutting. Not sure mine would ever look that neat ! Will check out the blog. Hope you are having a great time x

Carole Z said...

Hi Christine, I'm on catch up as we've visitors at the moment - a great tutorial Clare and very very beautiful, I don't think I would have the patience for this though :) Carole Z XX

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous work wish i could do that but with faulty hands alas i am unable to xx hazel

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