09/27/2021
Less than 2 years ago, I was binge watching YouTube videos and creating small scrapbooks of every description. I noticed a variety of methods/tools for trimming the corners of the paper before wrapping the chipboard covers.
A popular metal “L” was too short for the most common wrapping margin of 1” as it required drawing the line longer, so it was just a glorified ruler. Even if you used a smaller margin, while you hold it down your fingers would extend into the path of the blade…particularly if you have long nails! The other option was to split your fingers into the “L” (“loser”) position so that your finger was parallel to the cutting line…but more than once I saw a bandaid on the user, and one lady had even cut the side of her finger off! For me, I had another issue. I had surgery on the tendons of both wrists and the position is quite difficult and only doable if I turn the project around 45’ for EACH corner so I don’t have to "twist" my wrist.
There is also a clear plexi square tool with LOTS of options for lines and numbers. I have a similar one for quilts and know from experience it can slip on fabric…also, you have to look from directly above to align it accurately. I prefer to sit while I craft.
Sure, you can measure out from the corner and make a little mark and place a ruler on the approximate angle and draw a line, then cut with your scissors…but really??? I even saw people teach you to “paint the corners first” or use a marker to camouflage the chipboard that you failed to hide, not to mention the “cat ears” resulting from an excess of paper over the corner…
I grabbed a corner guide from an old stamping positioner (pre-"Misty") so it slides into position and settles there (the guide portion) and glued a little plexiglass scrap (from a small dollar store frame) that creates the "guard" then cut the protruding corner off the angled piece…there it was…primitive but effective. You could hold it down no matter which way it faces with just a bit of pressure and cut with your blade any direction you prefer. I can’t emphasize enough that it is still important that you use your nail or bone folder to “tuck” that tiny edge around the corner tightly before you wrap the second edge of each corner.
I contacted a plexiglass supplier and they put me in touch with one of their regular customers who owns a laser shop. We settled on a price and the size of a “run” and then I had to figure out where to find $500.00 for my first order!
Just one day later, a young man was in our home and saw a portrait I’d painted for my husband of "us". The visitor asked if I’d be willing to paint two dogs for a friend’s special birthday. I was VERY hesitant as my portraits were always "of family for family"…but when he emphasized that the occasion was soon and on two separate quite large canvases and he was willing pay for the added challenge, he quoted…you guessed it…
That my friends, is “the rest of the story”.
