Ten Things You Can Do with Border Punches

Welcome to our brand new feature "Ten Things Tuesdays."  Each week we will present a tool or product and ten ideas of how to use it that are a little out of the box.  Hopefully we will get some creative juices going for you on how to use items you've already got in your stash!  This week we kick it off with one of my favorite tools:  Border Punches!  


 1. Create tags using a border punch.
Practical Scrapper Christine used a fiskars punch and trimmed between every two scallops to create individual tags (these would be great for journaling strips too!)

2. Create a layered flower.

Practical Scrapper Kerri used her corner border punch from one of her Martha Stewart combo sets to create this layered flower.  She started by cutting three circles with her Creativer Memories circles at  2 1/2", 2 1/4" and 2" then punched around each circle and used some foam pop ups in between each circle.

3. Make a funky starburst.

Practical Scrapper Erin layered strips of patterned paper, some punched with border punches, and washi tape to create a starbust design (punches by EK Success and Martha Stewart).

4.  Use 3-Do  embellishments to "embellish" your border.
Practical Scrapper Jeannie added pearls to the center of her negative circle space.  She used an EK Success punch.

 5.  Use your scissors to alter your border.
Practical Scrapper Christine used her Fiskars punch and changed it up by snipping in between each scallop.  She also created dimension by curling the scallops forward.


6. Repeat border and layer to create ruffles.

Punch used: Martha Stewart, card by Practical Scrapper Jayma

7. Weave thread or ribbon thru the holes created by a border punch to make the strip color coordinate.
Practical Scrapper Jeannie used all kinds of border punch techniques on this card be it to create different edges, add dimension, embellish her dress...take a good, long look at this one!

8.  Layer scraps behind the negative space created by your punch.
Practical Scrapper Christine used scraps to totally change the look of her punch.  This is the same EK Success punch you saw used in Jeannie's card above!

 9. Create individual squares and punch all the edges to make a unique looking square.
Practical Scrapper Erin took the grid look one step further with her unique squares and she jazzed it up even more adding eyelets to her Fiskars punch holes.


10.  Use thread and do some hand stitching to embellish your border.
Practical Scrapper Christine used that EK Success Punch that keeps showing up and did stitching to change up her border.

What are some items/tools you'd like to see featured here?  We've got the next month planned but are wide open to what you want beyond that!
-Christine

Border Punches for Layouts

Are your edge punches like mine and getting dusty? Well we've got some great examples from our design team and our readers to get you thinking about pulling out the punches again!

Whether you frame a photo Like Claude or frame the entire page like Jannike,  it just makes sense to rediscover the tools many of us have paid so much for, and used so infrequently.

Jannike

Claude

Cards Using Border Punches

Border punches are the perfect tool for card making. Just a little punching goes a long way to adding detail and dimension to your card. Today's cards will give you lots of ideas to make sure your punches are getting used!

Jeannie shared a series of cards with us that pretty much speak for themselves. Bold colors and bold punches join together to make bold statements. If you let the products do the work, card making can be so satisfying!

Border Punch Flower Tutorial

Welcome back to Practical Scrappers for another tutorial. Today Kim is sharing a quick and super easy tutorial for border punched flowers.

First, cut a 1 x 12 strip of paper, any patterned paper is great, then trim one side with a border punch. Ink if you like.

Next you will cut the right edge on a diagonal.

Here comes the fun part, begin accordian folding from left to right, you are making a cricle by working counter clockwise. You can make your folds as small or large as you like, play with the shape as you go, the paper is very forgiving and easy to work.

When you are happy with the shape of your flower, just trim away the extra (there will just be a teeny piece) and finish off with a brad, bling, button, or other fun embellishment. Adhere with a glue dot, pop dot, or your favorite adhesive.

Here is another look at the finished journal.

I know you ladies have tons of fabulous border punches that would make fantastic flowers. If you try one, please share it with us, we'd love to see yours!!!!!