Using Border Punches

One of the latest scrapbooking trends is to use border punches to create decorative edges on your paper. I think the reason it is so popular is that scrapbookers no longer have to rely on shaped paper to get a unique look. There are a wide variety of punches on the market, and they are affordable, as you can use them again and again.

Choosing Punches

There are many brands of punches on the market, but the three most popular brands seem to be Martha Stewart Crafts, EK Success, and Fiskars. Each of the three looks a little different but they all work in the same way.

All three are similar in quality, but each brand offers slightly different designs. All three have the design in actual size printed along the back of the punch, as well as a little ledge on the back to guide your paper. They all have a punching handle; the Martha Stewart Crafts punch has the thinnest handle, and the EK Success one has the widest handle. All three have a midline point marked on the front of the punch. The EK Success punches have a locking mechanism so that you can store the punch with the handle down, and they make a storage system for holding them. The Fiskars punch is nicely marked along the bottom with gridlines so that you can easily line up both sides of the paper. Martha Stewart Crafts also makes an "Around the Page" punch set. It consists of a border punch with a matching corner punch. This enables you to shape an entire piece of paper. When buyingpunches, choose designs that appeal to you. 

Using Punches

To use the punch, you first line up the edge of your paper with the midline point, as shown on the front of the punch.  You then move your paper along the punch, using the printed design as a guide. When your paper matches exactly, you know it will punch the correct way. All you have to do is continue to punch the edge of the paper until the desired length is reached.

In her layout, "Outdoor Kid," Sarah Mullanix has used a variety of punches to give her page a varied look. She used a notebook edge, a Martha Stewart Crafts doily lace edge, and a Martha Stewart Crafts arch lattice edge. By using multiple punches, Sarah has added interest to her design, which draws the eye right to her photos.

In her "Out of this World" card, Jamie Cripps has repeated one punch, the Fiskars threading water punch, in multiple colors. She has layered them to add dimension, making a simple card truly spectacular.

A little creativity goes a long way in this "Miss You" card, also by Jamie. Jamie has included different borders to make a scene.  All punches in this card are by EK Success.