Hello hello! Grace here.
I hope this finds you Safe, Happy And Creative! Being safe and happy certainly helps with the being creative part! And being safe and happy these days is something we can be grateful for.
There’s something else to be grateful for today! Another special treat for us… The lovely Glynis Whitehead is here! Oh I do love Glynis 
Not only is she a super-talent, she’s a good friend.
And she has gifted us with her snipping skills! LUCKY US.
She has shared a step by step tutorial that focuses specifically on snipping. I don’t know about you but I NEED this! I’ve often not really known where to start with snipping, but reckon it’s very therapeutic… so this is reeeeeally helpful. Allow me to hand you over to the wonderful Glynis…
List of ingredients:
Largest of the tags from Nested Arch Tags (GRO-PA-41465-04)
Fairy 3 A6 Plate (GRO-FY-40710-02)
Occasions Border Plate (GRO-WO-40060-09)
Lace 1 Groovi Border Plate (GRO-PA-40044-09)
Plain Parchment (GRO-AC-40024-XX)
Embossing Tool (GRO-AC-40026-XX)
Super Foam (GRO-AC-40603-A4)
Pergamano 2-Needle Tool (PER-TO-70037-XX)
Pergamano 1-Needle Tool (PER-TO-70035-XX)
Scissor Options (see blog to find out which is best for you):
Pergamano Exclusive Pointed Scissor (PER-TO-70040-XX)
Ringlock scissors (PER-TO-70041-XX)
Perga Cutters (PER-TO-70042-XX)
Each of the above plates can be housed in the relevant Plate Mates giving you a larger area to work on:
A5 Plates – Calligraphy Plate Mate (GRO-MA-40517-08)
A6 Plates (with a Spacer Plate) – A5 Square Plate Mate (GRO-MA-40002-07)
Border Plates – Art Deco Border Plate Mate (GRO-MA-40348-13)
Step 1
For this demo, I have used the largest of the tags from the A5 Nested Arch Tags Groovi Plate and the fairy from A6 Fairy 3 Groovi Plate. The words came from the Occasions Border Plate.
*Top Tip – make a template of the words on some scrap parchment to enable you to put them in the right place.
Step 2
To get the lace edge (from the Lace 1 Border Plate) around the tag shape, start at the bottom edge, lining up the points of the scallops with the outline of the tag.
Turn the corner and do the same up the side of the tag.
Step 3
Where the line starts to curve, use the point of your embossing tool to ‘hold’ the parchment in place at one point of the scallop and then swivel the parchment until the next point meets the line and put that scallop in place.
Step 4
Repeat this, but don’t go right up to the top of the tag.
Do the other side of the tag to match.
Then put a scallop in the top centre.
Find a place on the plate to use to bridge the gaps that are left.
Step 5
If you want to add any whitework and colour, it is best to do this before you perforate and cut – I was naughty and did it afterwards!
Step 6
Now it is time to snip!
When we are creating our design, we are working on the back of the parchment. When we perforate and cut, we need to remember to turn our parchment over and do this from the front.
Use a deep perforating mat – the Super Foam works brilliantly on the light panel, otherwise use the Picot Foam on top and a FINE two-needle tool. A fine two-needle is better for perforating small areas like the insides of the scallops.
*Top Tip – if you find you need to perforate an extra hole where two needles will not fit, you can use a FINE single-needle tool. Also use the fine two-needle tool to perforate the outside of the tag.
Half the battle to good snipping is the perforating. When you perforate, make sure that the tool is upright and not at an angle. Make sure your hand is in a naturally comfortable position and move the parchment, rather than your hand, when going around the shapes. You need nice, deep, round regular holes and your snipping will be nice and even too.
Step 7
There are three kinds of scissors or cutters. Pergamano Exclusive Pointed Scissors, Ringlock Scissors and Perga Cutters. I use the cutters as I have some dexterity issues and find they are the best for me. Parchment scissors have very fine blades and are very very sharp at the points.
When you start to cut, your scissors need to be over the waste area – the bit that is going to fall away.
A lot of people hold the scissors very differently from others. As long as you are comfortable with the way you are holding them, that’s fine. Just place the very tip of the scissors into the holes and squeeze slowly until you see a ‘v’ forming between the two holes. Once you see that ‘v’, then snip. Some people will need to do a little twist before they snip, others not – it does depend on how you hold the scissors. As long as you see that little ‘v’ appearing and you have a little picot when you move the scissors away, you are doing it right. Just make sure you don’t dig the scissors in too far and make sure you can see the holes clearly too.
Step 8
You need to do all the insides of the scallops before you cut around the outside of the piece, to ensure you don’t weaken the paper. To get your eye in and also to get into the rhythm, do all the straight bits first – again turning the paper to meet you, rather than contorting your hand. Then do the curved bits. Just take your time and if you find you are getting uneven snipping, stop, rest and come back later. Turning the work is very important to help you to get nice straight picots.
Step 9
Perforate and cut around the fairy wings too.
Step 10
For the finished card, I have added some colour using the Perga Liner Pencils and added a little bit of white work to the design.
Cor!! That’s such a beautiful card. Thank you Glynis! I think I’m ready to give it a try… how about you at home?
You can find all of the bloggy offers attached to this tutorial HERE.
And don’t forget, tomorrow we are launching our very first ‘Moments of Clarity’ episode, at 3pm UK time. You can find out all about it here. And you can find the necessary products and offer here. The hour long episode is free and will be fun! So make sure to join us
But for now… travel gently! We’ll see you tomorrow.
Lotsa love, Grace xo
Clarity – The Home of Art, Craft and Well-being.