Some interesting uses for punches!

by **Maree** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 3:39 am

I found these on U Tube when I was searching for a base for Spirelli.
It is a pity to leave all our punches lying unused in a drawer, when they can be put to some really interesting tasks.
After all, they were our first 'machine'!

This one is about using Martha Stewart border punches to make lace strips. I am sure other brands of Border punches would also work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNOT0PsD ... re=related

This is about using a corner punch to decorate a circle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SX5Y3Yn ... re=related

Finally, using a corner punch to make photo corners.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soc_bVgy ... re=related

by **SheilaMary3** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 8:34 am

I tried this with my Fiskars" Holly" border punch last night,fabulous result! Thanks Maree!

by **Hilda** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 7:25 pm

Very interesting Maree, and I agree, we should all use our punches more (future challenge David??). However, having recently become hooked on die cutting (something I never, ever thought would happen to me lol!!!) it is soooooo much easier and quicker with some of the lovely dies around now. I have used punches in the past to make lacey strips, but I am pretty useless at lining up properly!!!!

by **Maree** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 10:15 pm

I agree about the die cutter Hilda, but the temptation for me now is to keep buying more and more dies, like I did with punches in the past. I have a drawer full of punches and have never really used them enough. I know some of the older punches are hard to use, but I put all my punches on the floor now and press them with my heel, in order to save what little strength I have left in my hands.
Also, I am looking forward to experimenting with my punches all over again after seeing this new information, and also hopefully, combining them with some of the die cuts.

by **Colleen** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 6:55 am

Gee thanks Maree. I have the lattice corner punch and will definitely be snipping the corners out, great tip and so simple.
As for aligning punches you can laugh at my expense! I had a MS punch for 2 yrs before I worked out that it had guides to open out so now it gets used a bit more than when I first brought it home from the craft show. The guides definitely make a difference to cutting :lol:

As for lacey strips I find it difficult to keep going long enough to have anything worthwhile as I seem to just not quite get it right somewhere along the strip and end up with short pieces!!!! I stopped buying punches after this.

by **Eileen** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 9:37 am

I've a gadget that I bought years ago.it cost about £4(can't find it at the moment :lol:

) it helps to calculate the exact size of the circle needed in order to use the corner and border punches around the circle and the centre

by **Maree** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 3:46 pm

Thanks for the idea Eileen. I just found this to make a template!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k-xwQCv4Cg

by **Katharine** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 5:35 pm

I have been wondering how to calculate the size of circle needed, to my mind it depends on the with of your corner punch and whether you want then to touch each other or just be close to each other. It may be a case of trial and error!

by **Eileen** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 6:50 pm

found them

it was called planet punch I've put some pics on http://www.picturetrail.com/eilo they came in all different sizes and if I remember were easy to use but it must be 4-5 yrs ago that I bought them

by **Maree** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 9:47 pm

Katharine wrote:I have been wondering how to calculate the size of circle needed,

Katharine, this is demo showing how to use a circle grid. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSbkxZ7c ... re=related

Maybe a little bit complicated.

Here you can download a circle grid.
http://incompetech.com/graphpaper/polar/

by **Katharine** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 10:22 am

Maree - don't laugh I already have suitable graph paper as well as several 360? protractors - I was thinking of literally calculating as a mathematician not as a card maker!

by **SheilaMary3** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 11:43 am

Katharine wrote: I was thinking of literally calculating as a mathematician not as a card maker!

My mind is "boggling" just thinking about it!!!

by **Colleen** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 1:59 pm

Maree wrote:Thanks for the idea Eileen. I just found this to make a template!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k-xwQCv4Cg

Thanks this is wonderful Maree and I have that Spellbinders nest of circles die set.

by **Katharine** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 2:20 pm

SheilaMary3 wrote:
Katharine wrote: I was thinking of literally calculating as a mathematician not as a card maker!

My mind is "boggling" just thinking about it!!!

Sorry Sheila, it is the way I was made! Some people are born with musical talents, some with athletic ones and some like me with numerical ones! I can't help it, honest!