Today I’m sharing one of my all-time favorite tools—my trusty Stampin’ Up! Paper Trimmer. If you’ve ever struggled to get straight cuts, clean scores, or you’ve wondered how to cut through more than one sheet at a time, you’re going to love this. I use this trimmer every day in my cardmaking, and over time, I’ve discovered a whole bunch of helpful tricks—some the easy way, and a few the hard way (hello, nicked finger!).
My latest YouTube Premiere is all about the Paper Trimmer—from its surprisingly long arm extension to its clean scoring blade and thoughtful design features that make our crafting lives so much easier. And I’ve got them here for you, too.
For instance, did you know the arm extends out to over 17 inches/43 cm? That’s perfect for larger projects like scrapbook pages or fun fold cards. And on the bottom of the trimmer are eight little rubber feet – they hold the trimmer steady when you’re using it. Little touches like that make a big difference. By the way, here’s a fun fact: you can store your trimmer by hanging it up. There’s actually a hole to help you hang it up and keep your desk free for projects. I love that!
Sometimes if feels like the clear guard is difficult to open – well, that may be because we’re doing it the hard way! There’s actually a little “ball” at the top and bottom of the trimmer that helps the guard latch. Gently pull up or down on the guard, and that baby lifts right up like magic. It’s great that the guard latches to keep our paper project right where we want while trimming.
It’s important to note that the cutting and scoring blades look different (yep—one is black [cutting] and one is gray [scoring]). When you cut skinny little pieces, there’s a “guard” in the way at the top and bottom of the cutting cool to keep smaller pieces of paper from moving – such a handy feature.
You can safely remove/replace the cutting blade using the notch at the bottom with a gentle pulling open of the paper guide at the same time. Also, using a light touch is better than a heavy hand when cutting. If you push too heavily, you may “fray” your cardstock.
Did you know that you can cut multiple sheets of DSP at once? Also, there’s an “ledge” at the 6-inch mark that makes it easy to cut 12” x 12” DSP in half. Only use your cutting blade on paper – and if your blade gets dull (which takes a long, long time), then use that dull blade for papers like glimmer paper or adhesive-backed cardstocks in order to keep your good cutting blade sharp. That’s why I keep a dedicated blade just for those tough materials.
Maintenance is another key piece! Clean trimmers using a bit of rubbing alcohol and a tissue, including the paper-cutting groove with a Take Your Pick Tool—because a clean trimmer cuts better and lasts longer. You can clean the blade with rubbing alcohol, too. Be sure you’re careful, though; that blade is super sharp! I’ve had band aids on my fingers in the past to prove it!!
Whether you’re brand new to stamping or a seasoned crafter, I hope this post and video helps you feel even more confident using your tools. You can watch the full Premiere below—and I’ll be in the live chat during the debut if you want to say hello or ask a question. If you’re on the replay, leave me a comment – I’d love to hear from you.
Thanks so much for stopping by. I can’t wait to see what you create with your Paper Trimmer next!
Oh – and please join me for Paper Party Live on Thursday, June 26 at 8 pm EDT. Here’re the measurements for the card we’ll be making – use whatever you have on hand:
Card for 6-26-2025 supplies/measurements:
- Stamp set sentiment you love (I’m using Impressions Abloom)
- Ink that will coordinate with papers you are using (that’s Strawberry Slush for me)
- Embellishments are optional (I snagged the Strawberry Slush & Pretty in Pink Gems)
- Cardstock/Paper:
o For card base: 5 ½” x 8 ½” (I am using Thick Basic White)
o Designer Series Paper/Patterned Paper (I grabbed Floral Impressions):
▪ (2 pieces) 4 ¼” x 1”
▪ (2 pieces) 1” x 3”
o Coordinating Cardstock (I’ve got Strawberry Slush): 3 ⅛” x 1 ⅞” and 5 ⅛” x 3-7/8″ for inside the card
o A Neutral Cardstock – embossing this piece is optional (I’m using Basic White and I embossed it with the Pressed Flowers Embossing Folder): 3” x 1 ¾”
o Scraps for sentiment (I chose Basic White so it’s easy to see) - o Basic White for inside the card: 5″ x 3 ¾”
See you then!
Supplies used:
Great video..thanks I learned a lot about the trimmer!!
Thanks, Mary Ann! So glad you had a takeaway or two about the trimmer. It’s a handy dandy thing to have around!
I have lost all the rubber feet on my trimmer. Are replacements available?
Yes! I sent you an email after speaking with Demonstrator Support at Stampin’ Up! I wanted to respond here as well. Simply give Stampin’ Up! a call at 1-800-STAMPUP and they will walk you through the information they need in order for you to get replacement rubber feet for your Paper Trimmer. Thanks so much for your comment and I hope this helps you!
I learned a fantastic tip, take your cutter and lay it sideways with the cutter blades to the far right. Open up your plastic paper guide take a piece of tear tape and stick it underneath your cutter where it shows the measurements ..put the guide back down and you have made reading that line stand out so much more!!!! It is amazing and so easy to read!
Thanks for your tip, Mary Ann! I’ve heard of doing that with the measurements on the guide before. It sure helps if it’s hard for someone to read!