If you've been scrapping for some time or have seen the wonderful works created by others, you know that the secret to many creative and unique pages is the scrapbook cutting tools being used.  While you can of course use templates and kits that have all your decorative items and embellishments already provided, wanting to make up unique and individual pages is going to involve manipulating papers and pages and sometimes even your photos.  The right scrapbook cutting tools, used in the right way, is going to help in this regard.  If you're serious about your hobby of scrapbooking you need to keep these in mind.  So what are some useful scrapbook cutting tools and how can you use them properly?

Larger scrapbook cutting tools are usually hundreds of dollars and allow you to cut out all sorts of shapes, patterns, and letters.  Some are very large and give you elements that are twelve inches by twelve inches, but of course the hobbyist probably won't need anything quite this big.  Some desktop scrapbook cutting tools are more affordable and offer a wide range of elements.  Typically you load a particular wheel or cartridge that contains the shape or letter you want and then select the size and insert your paper.  The machine traces the shape or letter and then cuts it for you so you have your element on the paper of your choice.  You an also typically cut out words and short phrases this way as well; most scrapbook cutting tools allow you to do this up to a certain number of letters.  If you have the money you may very well want to consider investing in such a tool.

Smaller scrapbook cutting tools may cut out letters and patterns this way but you need to do this by hand.  You insert a particular wheel or cartridge, line it up over your paper, and press the way you would a regular hole punch.  They're not as fancy and not as versatile but they work for most people.  These types of scrapbook cutting tools are also very affordable.

Other important scrapbook cutting tools you may want to consider are paper trimmers that work on a wide variety of pages and papers.  Keep in mind that many scrapbook pages are created by layering paper over paper but of course you want to be able to make clean cuts on the paper you use.  Often a scrapper will use paper as a photo border or page border as well; this is where scrapbook cutting tools also come in handy.  When you're trying to trim your paper or strips of paper around a photo or other element, it's good to be able to have a steady hand.  A good pair of scissors may not give you the neat trim you need.  Many trimmers that are designed to be scrapbook cutting tools offer a wide variety of angles and even shapes you can use; these can be good for whatever photo you're using or for whatever use you have for trimming the page.

There are other scrapbook cutting tools that actually allow a variety of shapes and angles, not just straight lines.  If you remember the basic compass you used in high school, tracing out arcs and angles, you get an idea for what these circular scrapbook cutting tools allow you to do.  You simply anchor the middle of the tool in the middle of the paper you want to cut, adjust the size of your shape, and the blade can then be moved in an appropriate angle or arc.  You can imagine the endless possibilities you can get with these types of scrapbook cutting tools, as you can easily cut circles, ovals, and other round shapes that are perfect and don't need to use a template or stencil which may ruin your paper.  These too come in a wide range of sizes and prices, so shop around for what you need and you're sure to find something that's affordable and perfect for your hobby.

To make the most out of your scrapbook cutting tools, try practicing on scraps of paper so that you don't ruin your good scrapbook paper.  Those that you work by hand may need some extra practice until you get the hand of how they work, the right grip to use, and so on.  Remember that most scrapbook cutting tools are a bit more complicated than regular scissors so you want to make sure you're using them correctly on a scrap piece of paper before moving on to an actual scrapbook project.

Of course you also need to use some discretion when shopping for and purchasing scrapbook cutting tools.  There is probably no end to the variety of tools you can purchase for your scrapbooking hobby and some may be out of the reach of your own budget.  You might do well to set a budget for yourself before you even shop so that you don't get tempted by all the "toys" that are out there.  One of the great things about scrapbooking is that it's so affordable, but of course you can get caught up in the excitement when shopping for scrapbook cutting tools and think that you absolutely need everything you see; if you do that, you might not have enough money left over in your budget for more papers, embellishments, album covers, and so on.

If you're shopping for scrapbook cutting tools of course you can and should consider online sites as they often carry a wide variety of tools made specifically for scrapbooking.  However your local craft supply store may also have many things available to you, as may an art supply store.  These usually offer scrapbook cutting tools and die cutters as well.  You can also check for used scrapbook cutting tools online at eBay or Craigslist.  This way you can save a few dollars but still get something that works fine for you and for your own scrapbooking hobby.