Cutting out letters

I recently bought some letter stencils and traced some letters and tried to cut them out, well they turned out just awful!!!
I was just using regular small scissors, am I missing out on something? How do they get all those perfect letter cut outs in the magazines? what do you use?

Please help!!!
Kathi

Try using the Micro Tip scissors from Fiskars. They work wonders for those little curves.

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Keep Scrappin' Along
Shelley *Ü*

Also, if you turn your paper over and your template over so you trace the letters backwards on the back of the paper, then when you cut you don't have to be right on the lines since you won't see them when you turn it over. Other than that, I've found that holding my scissors hand really still and turning the paper helps (rather than trying to turn my scissors around all the little curves). I hope this makes sense!

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Leslie *Ü*
~28 pages in 2001~

There is also a really awesome new product out. I think its from EK Success but not sure. It is called blade runner and it works on any templet and I think it is awesome. At my LSS it is 17.00 and then you have to buy a glass mat seperatly that is 14.00 so it is a little pricy but definatly worth it!!

I second tracing your letters onto the "back" of your paper. Make sure you trace them backwards, so that they are the correct direction when you turn them over.

Another thing you can use to cut out letters is the swivel knife from Fiskars. I use this with a glass mat and it is wonderful. You can cut into really tight corners and curves. I think the key to doing this is to practice. The more you do it...the easier it will get.

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Mom to 3 wild and crazy kids!! Seriously addicted to scrapping!! Ü

I also trace my letters backwards and cut them out. I use the coluzzle knife instead of the fiskars. I find that I have better control with it. Don't ask me why. Maybe it isn't as loose as the fiskars. Just use a regular cutting mat (not the coluzzle mat) when cutting out your letters.

I use an exacto knife for mine, as I don't use templates. Works out great! HTH!

I also trace backwards and the I just cut with a pair of CM sicsors I got from going to one of those parties. I think the smaller scissors work best for the letters because they can get into smaller places. This may also help. I use a pampered chef sharpener to keep my scissors really sharp so when I cut small things it's much easier.