The Fiskars Circle Cutter is a neat tool that can be used to cut perfect circles of various sizes. It’s easy to use and comes with several blades, so you’ll always have the right one for your job.
No more having to measure out paper circles or using some other imperfect substitute!
Using Fiskars circle cutter is not that hard. Fiskars made it very intuitive. But if you still want to know how to use this best paper circle cutter tool like the professionals, keep reading this article.
7 Steps to Use a Fiskars Circle Cutter:
Although the natural way of cutting circles is good enough, a few things in the Fiskars circle cutter make cutting circles a breeze.
Step 1: Choose the Blade you Need
Take a look at the blades that come with your circle cutter tool and choose which one will work best.
The small triangle blades are for delicate and intricate cuts, and thicker designs should use the triangle-shaped blades.
If it’s fabric or paper that needs cutting, choose a larger, more rigid blade as these work better on those materials.
Look over your project and decide how big of a circle you want to cut out. Remember, there is no such thing as an ugly circle, so don’t worry about what size to choose.
Once you’ve decided on what size, pick up whichever blades you think will be suitable for whatever material you are using, whether it’s paper, fabric, or something else.
Step 2: Choose Your Material
If you are using the circle cutter to make cards, pick out cardstock or paper that has a lovely pattern on it.
You want something with a texture and design rather than plain white, so choose wisely.
Step 3: Set the Cutter Diameter
When using the circle cutter to cut small circles in paper, make sure you begin by setting the diameter.
One of the essential steps in cutting out circles correctly is setting this part right, which gets easier once you know how to use Fiskars circle cutter for paper.
Just push down the silver button until it clicks into place and then pulls up on the orange handle.
This will allow you to set the cutting diameter correctly for whatever size circle you want.
Step 4: Place the Blade Against Your Material
When using paper or cardstock, remember that it’s very soft and cannot stand up to much force. So try not to press down too hard when you place the blade on your material.
Don’t press at all until you can tell where the edge is sitting. Because if you’ve placed it right then, the edge will sit exactly where the circle needs to be drawn in order to make a perfect circle.
Step 5: Begin Drawing Your Circle
Once you know where the edge sits, begin drawing your circle by slowly rotating the handle clockwise or counterclockwise. Do the side you feel more comfortable with.
Draw your circle until it’s as big as you want it to be, and then stop with the blade still in place against one side of the circle.
If you are using paper, leave about 1/2″ around the edge. Because that will overhang most cardstock circles giving you just enough room to write notes or captions if need be after they are cut out.
With cardstock, simply draw all the way around, so there is no border left at all. After cutting out your first round of circles, make a test sample of the rest to ensure they are all the same size.
If one or more is too small or too large, choose a different blade and start over until you get each circle the same exact size as your first one.
Step 6: Cut out Your Circles
Once everything is right with your materials and blades, place the blade against the paper again in its original spot since it’s already marked perfectly for you.
Begin turning your handle again. But this time, draw around your circle very slowly so that it takes longer than before.
Because now there is no border left on either side of it to keep the handle from running into anything while drawing your circle.
Step 7: Remove Your Circle From Your Material
Once cutting is complete, remove whatever paper you’re using from the machine and separate it from the circle.
How to Center a Fiskars Circle Cutter
The Fiskars circle cutter is an excellent tool for making decorative circles, but how do you center it?
It’s not always easy to find the right spot on your paper. You can’t just eyeball it because if you’re off by even a little bit, the circle won’t be centered.
Follow these five steps, and you’ll have perfect circles every time!
Step 1: Face the Blade Otherway
Make sure that the Fiskar blade is facing away from you.
Step 2: Fold the Paper
Fold your paper in half horizontally so that one of the short edges meets with one of the long edges.
Step 3: Fold them Vertically
Put your finger on top of where they meet and fold them together again vertically so that both short ends are touching each other.
Step 4: Find the Center Point
Draw a line against the point where both short ends meet. This will be your center point.
Now all you have to do is place the blade of the Fiskars circle cutter on top of that mark and make sure it’s centered to keep your circles symmetrical. Then push down firmly, rotating as you follow through with the circle cutter.
You can also use Fiskars Shape Cutter and either eyeball it or place your paper on top of the marked guides and follow through with the center point you created in step 4!
How to Use Fiskars Scrapbooking Rotary Paper Trimmer
Using Fiskars rotary trimmers is a delightful experience, but figuring out how to use them correctly can be somewhat of a challenge. Fortunately, the process is pretty straightforward and easy to learn.
Here are the steps to use Fiskars Scrapbooking Rotary Paper Trimmer.
1) Insert the Blade
Insert the blade into the cutter, and then adjust the blade to a level that matches the cutting surface.
Lift up the blade guard, slide the blade into place, and lower back down to lock it.
2) Place Mat on Cutting Surface
Place the paper onto the cutting mat in portrait orientation, with the short side in line with the curved edge.
3) Rotate Paper to Landscape Orientation
Rotate your scrapbook page or paper to be in landscape (sideways) orientation. Snap the blade into place by rotating the “blade-release arrow” counterclockwise until it locks into position.
4) Cut It
Press the arm and hold it down for cutting. Release pressure on blade guide to cut paper. Reposition guide back undercutting arms as needed for successive cuts.
5) Repeat Steps 3-4 as Desired
To make additional cuts, rotate the scrapbook page or paper 90° (one-quarter turn), rotate the blade, and cut again. Repeat as much as needed to cut out individual elements.
How to Sharpen Fiskars Paper Trimmer Blade
Sharpening your paper trimmer blade will help maintain its longevity and effectiveness for cutting paper products.
To sharpen Fiskars paper trimmer blade:
1. Hold the Paper Trimmer in Place
Hold the paper trimmer with one hand to keep it steady while you’re working on it. This will prevent injury by allowing you to control your movements better when sharpening the blade or replacing it.
2. Draw a Pencil Line along the Length of the Blade
Use a pencil to draw an even line along the length of the blade. Draw one line on each side of the blade so that you can see where to start and stop sharpening.
Be sure to keep the lines parallel with each other at all times.
3. Draw Another Square Line Diagonally across the First Two Lines
Draw a straight line across the top of the first lines you drew. This will give you a guide to help keep your blade straight and even as you sharpen it.
The square line should cross the pencil lines at 90-degree angles.
4. Sharpen your Paper Trimmer Blade
Sharpen your blade at a 45-degree angle against a sharpening stone. Move your blade up and down across the stone to ensure that it is sharp throughout.
5. Clean your Blade
Clean your blade with a cloth or towel before you put it back into the paper trimmer. This will help keep the sharpening residue from affecting your paper cut quality.
Conclusion
Circle cutter can allow you to cut circles with accuracy and precision quickly. And Fiskars circle cutters are the best of their kind.
The best part? You won’t have to worry about re-centering the cutter every time like some traditional circle cutting tools required!
It’s also easy on your hands, thanks to its ergonomic design and soft-grip handle.
I know most of the things in this article are pretty intuitive. But when you are making precision art, it is best to rely on expert advice rather than your spider-sense. So, use the Fiskars circle cutter to get a professional finish.
