Best way to cut patterned paper around chipboard shapes and alphas?

I have heard people say, "oh, it's fun and easy to cover chipboard shapes and alphas with patterned paper , cut around the edges (to trim the paper), and then sand the edges (of the chipboard + paper) to get that distressed look." Well, I tried it last night and although it seems that it should be easy, it was definitely not for me. I spent nearly 2 hours on a 6-letter title, trimming the paper right against the edge of the chipboard with an exacto-style knife, and then sanding the edges. It was easy to sand the large outside edges but getting into corners and in the middle of letters with holes in the middle was a huge pain. I saw in the Superstore the Basic Grey precision file set and I think this will help but the superstore is out of stock. But what about the cutting, is there a better tool to do that than a regular xacto knife and a self-healing cutting mat?

You should get an xacto that swivels. It is so much easier!

I just bought that BG set and it is awesome and very helpful. Some LSS carry them if you don't want to wait for them to be back in stock. Also, you can use some of the little Cutterbee precision scissors to cut the outside of the letters and the exacto just for the inside. Since you are sanding it doesn't have to be absolutely perfect. That's one thing I have learned in the last several years, scrapbooking doesn't have to be absolutely flawless...

I have a stationary x-acto knife. I usually cut as close to the letters as I can, then trim with scissors. Works fine for me.

the BasicGrey file set is awesome! You can get into all of the tiny spaces and curves. I normally just trim as close as I can with my scissors, then use my file set to remove any excess paper.

I always trace the shapes onto the backside of paper (making sure the paper will show correctly when put on the front - so put the front of the shape face down onto the back of the paper), cut it with scissors as I really don't have the skill to use an exacto smoothly, then adhere to the shape. From there I sand or not depending on the look I'm going for.

Unfortunately 2 hours for 6 letters doesn't sound all that bad to me so my way probably won't help you much.

I adhere my pp to my chipboard BEFORE I cut it, then I take really sharp scissors, like Cutterbees and cut out the letter. For the inside of the letters, like E's and A's, I punch a hole in there and cut it out roughly with my scissors.

Then...I gave myself a Dremel Mototool as a treat, and I use the little sanding wand to cut out anywhere and anything, even sands the edges. I got my BG set and love it but nothing beats my little handheld cordless Dremel.

i agree with riverroadrn- i adhere first, then exacto- may i ask- are you using a self healing mat? i had a piece of 12x12 glass cut and told the guy what i was using it for (he edged it properly so it wouldn't cut me) and it's SO much easier to cut that way. my friend had one and i couldn't believe the difference. and my exacto came from a kit i bought in the hardware store with several different blades for those hard to reach places. hope that was helpful!

Ohhh this is so timely for me.
I have been so stressed out trying to get my FAMILY Bo Bunny Chipboard Album covered. The edges look so knarly and raggedy, even after I used the BG file set.
THE DREMEL IS AN AWESOME IDEA.

Yes, I have been using a self-healing mat. Sounds like maybe I should get a glass mat? I also have been using a non-swivel knife, not xactoe brand but similar (knockoff I think). Maybe I should get the swivel blade as well...